James Julian Bane

James Julian Bane, age 86, of Longmont, CO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 10, 2024. He’s survived by his wife, Marylin Lee VanSant Bane; son Bradley (Cheryl) Bane and their children Quincy and Julian Bane; and daughter Julanne (Romeo) Magalong and their children Tricia Lotz, Sophia Butler, and Christian and Isabel Magalong. He was preceded in death by his father Ivan Bane, his mother Adelaide Bane, and his brother Rodney Bane.

Born and raised in Iowa City, IA, Jim graduated from University High in 1955 and the University of Iowa in 1959. He met his wife Marylin while they both worked at the Grand Lake Lodge in Grand Lake, CO, and married in Fort Collins, CO on September 10, 1960. On the day of his passing, they had been married exactly 63½ years.

After moving frequently during their first years of marriage, including adopting Brad and Julie while living in Des Moines, IA, the family decided to call Longmont, CO, home in 1973. They raised their children there and resided in Longmont for 40 years overall, a time interrupted only by an 11-year stay in Tucson, AZ, to be near Marylin’s parents. Jim supported his family as a salesperson of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, traveling the Rocky Mountain and West regions and logging over 2 million driving miles during his lifetime. He also knew how to find an ice cream shop in almost every town in his territory.

In addition to being deeply involved in the lives of his family and community, Jim was an avid fisherman, making frequent trips to the family’s Sage Pines cabin in the mountains near the Wyoming border. He enjoyed golfing, including taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to play the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, with his son, Brad. A passionate sports fan, he was a long-time Denver Broncos season ticket holder and cheered for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies, and Colorado Avalanche. But his heart belonged to the Iowa Hawkeyes, including a trip with his family to the 1957 Rose Bowl where he saw Iowa defeat Oregon State and came back with a piece of the goalpost and a lifetime of stories and memories.

Jim was a testament to the importance of showing up no matter what, a generous soul and a kind, decent, honest man who leaves a powerful legacy of family, friends and faith behind. He was active in couples’ Bible Study the majority of his time in Longmont, along with Bible Study Fellowship. He also encouraged people through participating in the care ministry at his church. He will be deeply missed but we are grateful for the relief he now feels and celebrate the fact that he’s ascended to Heaven with his Savior.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 2415 Lake Park Drive, Longmont, CO at 2pm Monday, March 18. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to https://lifefortheinnocent.org/ on behalf of Jim.