James Lester Schlaver, affectionately known as Jim, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on March 1, 1940, and went to be with the Lord on September 7, 2024, at 11:10 AM in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Surrounded by his family and a few close friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Hazel Schlaver. He is survived by his only child, Jeffery (56) (Tammy) Schlaver of Littleton, Colorado, and his beloved grandchildren: Cheyenne Schlaver (28) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Meranda Schlaver (27) of Montpelier, Vermont, and Austin (Destine) Schlaver (23), who is proudly serving in the U.S. Army.

Jim grew up in Sparta, Wisconsin, where he helped on his family's seed farm and graduated from Sparta High School with the class of 1958.

Jim attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering with the class of 1962. During college, he participated in ROTC at Fort Riley, Kansas, in the summer of 1961, becoming a U.S. Army officer. He served proudly for four years.

After his service in the Army, Jim pursued various careers and met his future wife, Sandy, whom he married in 1967. Together, they had one child, Jeff. Though they divorced in 1980, they remained dedicated to raising Jeff together in Dayton, Ohio.

Jim retired to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1995, where he, his son, and his son's father-in-law built his home. He spent the next 29 years of his life there, enjoying skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and biking. Every year, Jim traveled to Cozumel, Mexico, to celebrate his birthday with a scuba diving trip.

Jim's life was defined by his deep love for his family and faith. His strong spirit, warmth, and unwavering dedication to those he loved will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Services for Jim will be held on October 14, 2024, 11 AM at Concordia Lutheran Church. There will be a live stream for those unable to attend in person, with a link to be provided at a later time.