Obituary of James "Jim" Ervin Maresko

James Ervin Maresko passed away on March 18, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, surrounded by his loving family. He was 87 years old.He was born on August 18, 1933, in Gary, Indiana to Phillip Maresko and Lila Otilie Johanna (Heck) Maresko Dean.James married Shirley Ann Jenkins on December 2, 1960, in the Independence Hill Presbyterian Church in Merrillville, Indiana. He was baptized and a member there for many years prior to moving to Colorado in 1971. He then became a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs. He was a fifty-one year resident of Colorado, residing in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs. After retirement, he and Shirley enjoyed being "snowbirds" and owned a home in Sun City West, Arizona. James served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1960 as a flight mechanic, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. After his service, the majority of his career he was a communications specialist, working for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1960, then transferred to Mountain Bell in 1971, and then retired from AT&T in 1986. One of the exciting highlights of his career was having worked inside "The Mountain" at the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado Springs. He then worked for the U.S. Government in Satellite Communications, tracking satellites at the Space Center at Falcon Air Force Base. Jim and his beloved wife, Shirley, were married fifty-nine years. Shirley was a travel agent and this allowed them to travel the world on many memorable trips in the U.S. and abroad, including Europe, Russia, China, Mexico and the Caribbean. They both enjoyed their time together attending all types of sporting events, both local at the USAFA, CU College and national events at various locations across the country. After retirement, Jim continued to work hard and became vice president of his condo maintenance board in Sun City, where he worked with big improvements to the condo building and grounds, fixing leaks, roofing, patios, rocks and shrubbery on landscaping projects.He also enjoyed being a Starter/Marshall at the Golf Courses at the USAFA, Patty Jewett and Peterson AFB, all in Colorado Springs. This allowed him to play on leagues at these courses as well; to spend more time doing what he loved, playing sports! James and Shirley enjoyed retirement half of the year in Sun City West, Arizona, enjoying water exercise, senior softball and golf. He played both sports in both states, until he was about 80 years old. He always insisted on walking the golf course, instead of riding in the cart, to stay in shape. James, throughout his life, was an avid sports lover. He had a love and passion for all sports, probably because he was so good at them! He was always active in many types of sports, including basketball, golf and snow skiing; but mostly he loved softball.He was very active in softball his entire life, beginning at a very young age in Indiana. He played softball in the Air Force. He coached little league, he played Fast Pitch Softball with Mountain Bell League Team, then in Woodland Park he managed and played the Slow Pitch Softball Team. In Sun City West, Arizona, he was appointed manager of the SCW team tournament at Luke AFB. James enjoyed snow skiing with his daughter, Marla, which led to purchasing a timeshare condo in Vail, Colorado. There are so many years of cherished memories there, skiing with his children and grandchildren, and other family members and friends. He snow skied until he was about 70 years old. We are grateful for his vision of investing in a condo in this world-renowned location, and the family will continue to enjoy memories there for many years to come!He was not a boastful man, so he deserves some bragging rights now that he is gone. He hit two holes in one while golfing, one at age 66 and the other at age 73! And for being an amateur softball player, his name was mentioned in various local newspapers frequently! He hit home run after home run, whichever team he happened to be playing on at the time. We were all proud of him; he was our own personal "Superstar"!James was humble, gentle and a soft-spoken man. He lived quietly and left us quietly. Yet, when he did speak, he was usually always funny and made us all laugh. Our family and friends will miss his sense of humor and his smile that he always had to offer. Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, whom passed in 2019; and his granddaughter, Kathryn Helen Schubert, whom passed in 2013.He is survived by his two daughters, Kimberly Ann Bosick and her husband, Joseph, and Marla Kay Klasing and her husband, Thomas; he leaves behind grandchildren, Ryan Lee Schubert, Alexis Rose Klasing and Brandon James Klasing; he is also survived by five great-grandchildren. James was sixth in his family of eight siblings, and is survived by two of those siblings, his brother, John Maresko and wife, Diana, who reside in Shawnee, Kansas, and his youngest sister, June Shuttleworth, who resides in Lake Station, Indiana.A private Memorial Service will be held 1:00PM, Saturday, April 3, 2021 with Air Force Honors for family and close friends. Contact the family directly for more information.A burial will take place later in the year at, Calumet Park Cemetery, 2305 West 73rd Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, where James and Shirley both grew up as children.James and Shirley will both be laid to rest appropriately, side by side, just a short mile from the church where they were married.The family is asking in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Jame's name to the Alzheimer's Foundation in hopes that a cure be found for this horrible disease that affects so many.