James A. Pech Jr.

James "Jim" A. Pech Jr., Denver, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at Denver Hospice on October 31, 2016 at age 87. Jim was the son of Mary and James Pech of Chicago, IL. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force as a Staff Sergeant from 1948-1952 in Alaska where his love of skiing was fostered and his expertise with planes began. In his last three months of service, he spent his time in Maine where he met Alice Jean Wright, his first wife. They moved back to Chicago together where Alice introduced him into his career with United Airlines. With United Airlines, Jim and Alice transferred to Denver, CO. Jim began as a Ramp Service Manager and moved up the ranks to become a Senior Flight Operations Instructors for the 747. Jim was with United Airlines for 39 years before retiring in 1992. When Jim and Alice were married they had two children together, Valerie and Bradford. Jim met Rita Barnard and her daughter Heidi in 1973 and they were married shortly thereafter in 1974 in Aspen, CO. Jim and Rita lived and loved happily together for the rest of his life, adventuring in Denver and Winter Park as tenured skiers. Jim and Rita were world travelers as they both had cultivated a love for international and domestic experiences and wanderings. First and foremost, his love of dirt bike riding took precedence and from that his passion for motorcycle touring grew. Jim was a cigar enthusiast, self-taught guitarist and eclectic music lover, superb handy man, bookworm and grandfather extraordinaire. It has been said "Jim had a great spirit for life." Jim is survived by his wife Rita Pech, his sister Dorothy Acklin, his brother George Pech (Barbara Pech), his children Valerie Gibbs (Renee Elmore), Bradford Pech (Lesley Lange), Heidi Dignan (James Dignan), his grandchildren Winter Gibbs, Brandon Gibbs, Brittany Pech, Molly Dignan, Blake Pech, Sarah Dignan, his great-grandson Gavin Gibbs, and nieces, and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Horan & McConaty at 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80246 on Friday, November 4th, 2016 at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Denver Hospice or Project Angel Heart. For full obituary, please see www.HoranCares.com.