James L. Barleen, 79, of Apache Junction, Arizona, passed away on July 26, 2024, at Las Palomas Memory Care in Mesa, Arizona, surrounded by family. He bravely battled Parkinson’s disease with the compassionate support of the care center staff and Choice Hospice.

Born on August 2, 1944, in Concordia, Kansas, Jim was the son of Lloyd and Ila Marie (Larson) Barleen. He spent his early years in Norway, Kansas, Riley, and finally, in Waterville in 1952, where his father acquired a Chevrolet Dealership. After graduating from Waterville High School in 1962, Jim began his career selling cars and later attended GM Tech School in Detroit in 1966.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Karen Brehm, in August 1964, and together they raised three children. In 1970, they relocated to Colorado, where Jim managed a mobile home sales lot and worked as a sales representative at Skyline Corporation in Brighton. With a deep-rooted interest in manufactured housing, Jim returned to Kansas to establish Barleen Mobile Homes Sales in Concordia and developed mobile home parks in the area.

Music played a vital role in Jim’s life, inherited from generations of the Barleen family. In 1979, the Barleen family ventured into theater ownership, launching a summer theater in Estes Park, Colorado, and opening a winter dinner theater in Apache Junction, Arizona, in 1987. Jim led the family onstage both musically and as the show’s emcee. He never saw his audience as simply customers, but rather as guests at his own dinner table.

Jim and Karen retired as theater co-owners in 1995, settling full-time in Estes Park, where they owned and operated the B&B Convenience Store until 2002. In retirement, they embraced the snowbird lifestyle, spending summers in Estes Park, and winters in Apache Junction, where they continued to work part-time at the family dinner theater. Jim also spent 15 summers driving shuttle buses in Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to Jim’s health, they became full-time residents of Arizona in 2018.

In addition, Jim was an avid fan of NASCAR, football, and an even bigger fan of corny jokes. He believed time spent with family and friends was one of life’s greatest pleasures. Most importantly, Jim was a dedicated family man, who inspired and encouraged multiple generations through his wisdom and unparalleled sense of humor.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Ila Marie, brother William, and sister Beth. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Karen, their children, Charles “Chuck” (Sheila) of Estes Park, Robert “Bob” (Lisa) of Johnston, Iowa, and Jeri Ann of Estes Park. He greatly enjoyed the company of his seven grandchildren, Valarie, Ian, Jacob, C.J., Morgane, Cade and Logan, as well as his two great-grandchildren, Rhylie and Zander. Jim is also survived by his siblings, Janice, Ben, Barbara (Michael), Brenda (Veronica) and Jeffrey (Carrie).

Services will be held on Wednesday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norway, Kansas and a Celebration of Life on Friday, August 30, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the American Legion in Estes Park, Colorado. Honorary pallbearers include Steve Christensen, Jim Watters, Vernon Oepping, Richard Ward, Dudley Nelson, Ken Brehm, Charles Gordon and Francis Arganbright.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any organization supporting research for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

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