Obituary of James Neil Wetz

James Neil Wetz, 83, of Aurora,  Colorado passed away peacefully on December 7, 2020 at The Denver Hospice.

Jim – as he was known to family and friends, was born January 18, 1937 to Gerald and Amelia (Schaff) Wetz in the family farmhouse in Vale South Dakota. He was the 2^nd youngest of eight children.

Jim graduated Valedictorian from Vale High school in 1956 and wanting to see the world while serving his country, immediately joined the United States Air Force.  He was sent to Air Force Intensive Language training at Yale University where he studied Chinese. From there, he was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan, where he met the love of his life – Shih May Lee.  They were married June 26, 1959 in Taipei. 

Jim honorably served in the Air Force for 27 years where the majority of his career was in military pay as an Accounting Technician. In 1990, he received his BS in Vocational Education Studies from Southern Illinois University.

Jim loved working on making plastic models, watching NASCAR, and helping others. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, generous heart, kind spirit, and contagious smile. He will be greatly missed – we love you poppa-san! Rest in Peace.

He is survived by his wife, May, and children: Larry (Laura) Wetz, Sacramento, CA; Sally (Rick) Wetz, Denver, Colorado; and Jonathan Wetz, Altus, Oklahoma. Jim also leaves behind four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

An interment service at Fort Logan National Cemetery will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers and as a tribute to Jim, family and friends can contribute to imprint a memorial brick for installation at The Denver Hospice Center at Lowery

www.thedenverhospice.org/giving/give-donate.