Jeff was born November 26, 1963, in Jacksonville, FL to Gerald “Jerry” and Virginia “Gini” Sturm.
The family moved to Basking Ridge, NJ in 1968, and then to Monument, CO in 1970. Jeff graduated from Lewis Palmer High School in 1982. His time in Monument as a child and teen was filled with all kinds of adventures, shenanigans with other neighborhood kids, and playing guitar or other instruments whenever he could. He forged some very strong life-long friendships in that time.
After a stint at Pikes Peak Community College studying and excelling in machining, he chose to continue his adventures at Copper Mountain Ski Resort in 1984. He and his brother Trey lived together in a cabin in Leadville, CO. Jeff started working as a lift operator, became a lift operator foreman, worked at the golf course, helped build the American Eagle ski lift and eventually became a member of the Professional Ski Patrol at Copper after earning his EMT certification. Always up for an adventure, in the summer of 1987, Jeff took off to Alaska with 2 other friends to experience the commercial fish processing industry. The car they were driving broke down in Fort St. John, British Columbia. The 3-some continued by way of hitchhiking to Kenai, Alaska to find work for the summer. Jeff continued to go during the summers to Alaska to work for Dragnet Fisheries until 1993.
In the Fall of 1988, Jeff met Leslie at Copper Mountain. In November of 1988, Jeff hosted a birthday bash at the B-lift Pub, and Leslie joined in since their birthdays were only a day apart. The rest “is history”. Leslie joined Jeff in Alaska for the summers of 1990, 1991 and 1992. Jeff proposed to Leslie on the Agulowak River June 1, 1991. They were married January 4th, 1992, in Grand Junction, CO. In August of 1992, they moved full-time to Girdwood, AK and continued their co-adventure. Jeff spent October 1992 barging supplies to villages along the shores of Lake Iliamna. At the start of the 1992/93 ski season, he began work on Alyeska Resort’s Ski Patrol. He spent the ski season of 1993/1994 as the night Patrol Supervisor. In the spring of 1994, he became the security department manager for the Alyeska Prince Hotel which he ran until the end of his Alaska adventure in October of 2000.
October of 1994 began yet another adventure, that of dad to Taylor Dillon and eventually Jacob Bristol in May 2002.
After a move back to Grand Junction in 2000, Jeff began a 16-year career in the oilfield in 2004, first with Schlumberger, and later Liberty Oilfield Services. In 2020, he began working for Western Filament in Grand Junction as maintenance supervisor where he was able to finally use his machining skills.
In his off times, Jeff enjoyed as much time as possible with his family. He loved the outdoors: rock and ice climbing, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, shooting. He played guitar with his great friends Brian and Ed. He brewed beer and wine. He barbequed at every opportunity. He cheered his kids on in their sports and other activities.
He was able to see Taylor and Ward get married in September of 2019 and see Jacob enlist and ship off to become a United States Marine in August of 2021.
Many people he worked with accused him of fabricating the stories of his life. Those who know him well, know that was far from the truth. He lived a life full of unbelievable adventures.
Jeff was preceded in death by both sets of his grandparents, mother Gini, Aunt Jane, and Uncle Richard. He is survived by wife of almost 30 years, Leslie, daughter Taylor (Ward), son Jacob (Lance Corporal USMC), father Jerry, brothers Trey and Mike (Zeida), sister Suzanne, father and mother-in-law Kevin and Jan Williams, brother and sister-in-law Sam and Kim Williams, nephews Gabe, Zion, Colton, Preston, along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Please join us for a celebration of life and BBQ picnic on Saturday, June 11 at 2pm at the Lincoln Park Ash Shelter (by the playground). Please wear your favorite colorful outfit to honor his colorful and vivid life. RSVP to [email protected] so we can be sure to have plenty of food and seating.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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