James Roffe Obituary (1920 – 2022) – Denver, CO

James Leroy Roffe passed away peacefully on May 14, 2022. James (Jim) was born on June 25, 1920 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania to Leo Heltman Roffe and Madalyn May Moodler and raised primarily by his maternal grandmother. He spent his childhood skating on the Susquehanna River and watching Piper Cub aircrafts take off and land at the airfield near his home. He graduated from Lock Haven High School where he was active in the choral club, band, and orchestra. He played trumpet in a local jazz band followed by playing “Reveille” after enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II where, as a Second Lieutenant, he flew B-17 bombers and trained other pilots. While stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, Jim met his future wife, Helen Agnes Jaszkowiak, at a USO dance at the Trocadero at Elitch Gardens and they married in 1946. As he and Helen raised three children, Jim worked at Land Abstract Company as a typist while attending the University of Denver. He remained in title insurance his entire working life and retired as regional president of Transamerica Title Insurance Company. Jim was active in the Denver Optimist Club, loved playing golf with his friends after picking up the game at age 46. He never missed watching a Denver Broncos’ game, loved a good chocolate milkshake, and couldn’t pass up a slot machine in Central City. He had an incredible sense of humor, taught his family the love of travel, hard work, and a forthright approach to life. He and Helen were most proud of being able to provide a college education for each of their children. Preceding him in death were his wife Helen and his daughter Margaret Rhodes Butterly. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his two sons and two daughters-in-law; Steven Roffe, Dolly Roffe, Gary Roffe, Janet Barrows, his nine grandchildren; Kyle Roffe, Trevor Roffe, Bryce Roffe, Erin Hopper, Cara Gauthier, Colin Butterly, Katy Butterly, Caroline Roffe and Zach Roffe, and four great grandchildren; Lawley Hopper, Wilson Hopper, Morley Gauthier and River Gauthier. Celebration of life will be held at Bonnie Brae Tavern at a later date. Donations to the Denver Zoological Foundation or to Macular Degeneration Research at BrightFocus Foundation would be much appreciated.