Col. James Victor Sanden

Jim was born on January 15, 1919, in Ault, CO, to Noble and Lillian Sanden. He grew up in the Ault area where the family was engaged in farming, ranching and operating a farm implement and hardware business. He graduated from Ault High School in 1936 and went on to attend Colorado A&M (now CSU). He completed his studies in 1940 when he graduated with a degree in agronomy. He was also active in the ROTC program and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve Field Artillery. After graduation from college he worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Southern Colorado until called to active duty in July of 1940. He served with the 1st Calvary Division at Ft. Bliss, TX, and was commissioned in the regular army in 1941. In 1942, he was transferred to the newly reactivated 91st Infantry Division in Camp White, OR, and remained with the Division in North Africa and Italy until the end of the WWII. In 1943 he married Delma Faithe Bartlett. James, Jr., was born in 1946 and son, Gary Noble, was born in 1949. Jim entered the Korean War in July of 1950 as commanding officer of the 90th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. In August of 1950, his Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for action on the Pusan Perimeter. Jim thoroughly enjoyed teaching. He taught gunnery at the artillery school at Ft. Sill, OK; was an artillery instructor at the University of Alabama; and was a Professor of Military Science at Arkansas Technical University. He and his family served overseas tours in Japan, Turkey and Spain and 11 state-side ports. Jim retired from his last assignment as Director of Policy, North American Air Defense Command in 1969, after 29 years of service. He and Faithe returned to Ft. Collins where he worked for CSU as Administrator of the Hartshorn Student Health Service until 1981. He was also coordinator of the Sanden-Ehn Family Farm Operation. Jim was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Metal, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle East Campaigns with Three Battle Stars, Korean Service Metal with Five Battle Stars, and various theater and campaign awards. He was a long-time and avid outdoor sportsman and enjoyed shooting sports, and hunting and fishing, especially with his sons and many long-time friends. Jim is preceded in death by his loving wife Faithe. He is survived by his two sons, James, Jr. (Linda) and Gary (Fran), grandson, James III (Megan), sister, Alyce (Bob), 22 nieces and nephews and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews in whom he took special joy. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, February 3rd at the Allnutt Drake Chapel, 650 W. Drake Road, Ft. Collins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fisher House Foundation (providing a "home away from home" for military families to be close to their hospitalized soldier; http://www.fisherhouse.org/) or to the Arthritis Foundation, Rocky Mountain Chapter. Your donations may be sent in care of Allnut Funeral Service., 650 W. Drake Road, Ft. Collins, CO 80526. Please visit www.allnutt.com to view Jim’s on-line obituary, sign the family guest book and send condolences.