James Ascher died peacefully on February 12, 2017 at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Jim was born on March 27, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois to John B and Loretta (Coffman) Ascher. He graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry. While there, he met Pat whom he married on July 13, 1957.

Jim was a businessman. He began his career as a chemist and quality control manager for Procter & Gamble in Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri. He left that position to manage printing operations at Poole Brothers Printing in Chicago and later opened his own printing company, Program Printing Group, in Woodstock, Illinois. He later joined CCTV, a subsidiary of AT&T, installing the cable TV network in Aurora, Illinois.

Having tired of the lifestyle in the Chicagoland area, Jim took a leave of absence for a year to see if the family could make a living in Colorado or the intermountain west. After taking a couple of months to travel the area, the family ended up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Jim became part-owner and managing partner of the Steamboat Athletic Club at Storm Meadows and later, the Gallery Restaurant. He was always active in the business community in Steamboat Springs, including 20 years on the Routt County Memorial Hospital and Yampa Valley Medical Center boards.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Pat. He is survived by three children, John of Longmont, CO, Jim of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Tom (Paula) of Hood River, OR and three grandchildren, Kelly of Steamboat Springs, CO, Tim of Hayden, CO and Caitlin of Berthoud, CO.