James "Jim/Ace" Cannon

Jim was born on April 30, 1938, to the late Richard Mason Cannon and the late Margaret Demarius Olinda (Trader) Cannon in Riverside, California.

On October 11, 2024, Jim ended a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease at his home in Aurora, Colorado.

Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after his 17th birthday, after that enlistment ended, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and enrolled in higher education courses and military training, attaining rank of Seargent First Class. In the fall of 1963, he was stationed in Ft. Carson, Colorado where he met, and on November 9, 1963, married his beloved wife Wanda Sue (Finto) Cannon. During Vietnam, he served as a Tank Commander, named his tank “Wanda’s Witchcraft” after her, and wrote to her often. Later he was stationed in Korea, where he received The Army Commendation and his first oak leaf cluster, he went on to receive several more commendations and medals for meritorious service. Jim attained the rank of Captain but was moved to Seargent First Class during the reduction in force. He retired from the U.S. Army with over 20 years of honorable service and was advanced back to rank of Captain (ret). He began a secondary career and as an auditor for the Real Estate Commission, from which he retired in the late 1990s.

Jim loved to travel, and did so extensively with his family, throughout the United States, visiting historical sites, tourist attractions, and national parks. He was also a voracious reader and passionately studied history, specifically military history, and the Old West. He loved to have his family around him, to visit or share a meal, and he felt at peace when they were together. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his parents, Jim is preceded in death by his brother, Richard M. Cannon, sister, Margaret Demarius “Tad” Cannon, and granddaughter Lauren (Coe) Cheney.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 61 years, Wanda S. (Finto) Cannon; daughters, Patricia Schreiber; Dianda (Butch) Coe; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Nick (Laura) Schreiber - Waverly, Wyatt, Wren; Rebecca (Travis) Malone - Veniece, Ava; Kris (Yer) Coe - Alex, Jaxon; Brian Cheney - Jaelyn, Connor.

A celebration of life memorial for Jim will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231. A lunch reception will take place at the same location, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

A private committal ceremony will occur for the immediate family, at a later date, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO 80260.

James Cannon Obituary - Denver, CO (dignitymemorial.com)

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | Parkinson's Disease (michaeljfox.org)