Obituary

Obituary – James Hirt
February 5, 1953 – December 28, 2008

James Joseph Hirt of Longmont, Colorado died December 28, 2008 at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO. He succumbed to a head injury resulting from a fall on the ice while ice fishing near Red Feather Lakes the day before.

Jim was born on February 5, 1953 in Pittsburgh, PA to Ellen and John Hirt. Raised in Lansing, IL, he graduated from Thorton Fractional South High School in 1971, where he was active in both football and baseball.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Linda Lee McWilliams on July 24, 1976 in Toledo, OH. They started dating when Linda was just 14 years old. At the time of Jim's death they had been together for 41 years.

Jim started work for the railroad in 1973 as a member of the Bridge and Building crew for Conrail in Toledo, Ohio. Jim was not only an accomplished carpenter, but in 1984 became a certified welder. In 1979, he and Linda moved to Pueblo, CO where he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad until 1989. Jim left the railroad so that he could spend more time with his growing family. He decided to cross train into the high tech industry and learn about electronics. In 1991 he graduated with honors from Technical Trades Institute in Colorado Springs with an Associates Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology. After graduation he started his career with Quantum Corporation (a division of Digital Equipment Corporation) in Colorado Springs, followed by Maxtor Corporation in Longmont, CO and until the time of his death, Jim was an Engineering Support Specialist in the Firmware Test Process Integration Group at Seagate Technology in Longmont, CO.

Jim was a loving and devoted husband and father. Nothing was more important to him than providing for, and showing his love for his family. Jim was a committed follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, and led his family by living his life according to Christ’s teachings. He attended Lifebridge Christian Church for the past 12 years. He actively supported all his children’s endeavors from sports to musical programs. He instilled in his children the values of hard work and honesty, and showed them how to love others unconditionally. Jim loved spending time with his family and friends.

Jim also loved music. Hardly a day would go by without him playing his guitar and singing. Music was his way to unwind after a hard day of work or play. He loved to listen to the radio any time he could. He especially loved listening to classic rock or oldies, which would usually result in him finding his guitar and learning a new riff.

Jim had many other skills and hobbies, including carpentry, landscaping, kayaking, target shooting, fishing, bicycling, photography, riding his street and dirt motorcycles, and camping. “Tinkering in the garage” was one of his favorite pastimes. Jim loved being outdoors, especially in the mountains. But when he couldn’t be in the mountains, he would often spend the early evening hours in his back yard, taking in the sounds and sights of nature.

Jim, and his son Justin, own a piece of property in Crystal Lakes, and he loved spending time there, with the plan to ultimately build a cabin on the property. This location provided a refuge where Jim could use all his skills and hobbies, while at the same time enjoying God’s creation.

Preceding him in death are his father, John Hirt of Lansing, IL.; his niece Sheryl Gayda of Centerville, OH; nephew Kurt Schuette of Newbury, OH.

Surviving are his loving wife Linda, of Longmont; eldest son Justin and his wife Vale of Castle Rock; son Adam, daughter Larissa, and son Evan, all of Longmont; his mother, Ellen Hirt and brother John Hirt, both of Lansing, IL; sister Ellen Gayda and her husband Joe, of Springboro, OH; nephew Joe Gayda and his wife Dawn and their children Joey and Jeni of Springboro, OH.; nephew Tony Gayda and his wife Jackie and their children, Connor and Abbey of Fayetteville, GA.; sister Merlyn and her husband Ron Schuette of Newbury, OH.; nephew Ron Schuette and his wife Andrea and their son Josh of Newbury, OH. Patti Schuette, widow of Kurt and their children, Hannah and Kurt Jr. of Burton, Ohio. Jim leaves behind numerous friends, co-workers and extended family members that he loved very much.

A cremation has been entrusted to Crist Mortuary of Boulder, CO. His ashes will be spread in the springtime upstream of Panhandle Reservoir in Crystal Lakes. In his Last Will and Testament, Jim mused that if anyone wanted to see him, they’d have to drive up there, and just maybe they’d get in a little fishing.

Services will be held on January 10th, at 10 AM at LifeBridge Christian Church located at 10345 Ute Hwy, Longmont, CO 80504.