James (Jim) Leslie Colburn was born on October 7, 1928 in Valentine, Nebraska to Frank Leslie Colburn and Harriet Elizabeth (Stevenson) Colburn. Jim died on January 12, 2017 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska at the age of 88. He attended grade school through high school in Valentine and was a member of the 1946 football team that went undefeated and unscored upon that year. He attended Chadron State College for two years until he joined the United States Air Force during the Korean War. After his time in the armed forces he went into partnership with his father in the Sandhill's Insurance Agency. After his retirement from insurance, he moved to Lincoln, NE to pursue his true passion, the Huskers. He held season tickets for all University of Nebraska-Lincoln sporting events and attended all the football games, practices, and bowl games. Jim also attended two Olympic games, Mexico City in 1968 and Los Angeles in 1972. He was a connoisseur of ice cream and loved experimenting with different homemade recipes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Colburn and Harriet (Stevenson) Colburn, along with his sister-in-law, Roberta (Roosa) Colburn, brother-in-law, Richard Lines, and great nephew, Tyler Colburn. He is survived by his sister, Delores Lines of Knoxville, TN; brother, Jerry Colburn of Scottsbluff, NE; nephews, Steven Lines (Mary) of Madison, AL and Paul Colburn (Deneen) of Scottsbluff, NE; nieces, Jeanette Colburn of Laramie, WY and Andrea Colburn of Ft. Collins, CO; great nephews, Brian Colburn and Aaron Lines; and great nieces, Amy Colburn and Jennifer (Lines) Kemp. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Valentine NE at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 20th with a viewing at 11:00 at the church before the funeral service. Internment following at Mt Hope cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation of your own choosing in Jim's name. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines is in charge of service arrangements.