James Auken
James L. Van Auken 90, a native of Buffalo, Wyoming who resided in Tucson, Arizona for over 60 years, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2012. Jim worked for over 30 years as a Livestock and Brand Inspector for the Arizona Livestock Sanitary Board throughout Southern Arizona. Well-known among local ranchers, he loved working with them and came to know the southern Arizona landscape like the back of his hand. Jim was born November 6, 1921 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and grew up on his father's ranch in Johnson County, Wyoming. Following his father's premature death in the late 1930s, Jim took over the family's horse breeding operation and was registered as the youngest Remount stallion owner in the US. Jim graduated in 1939 from Johnson County High School (Buffalo, Wyoming) and attended Notre Dame University. As a Navy officer, he served on a sub tender during the Second World War, though hostilities ended before he saw action. In 1966 he married Anne Bradstreet Hansel in Tucson, and her four children and their extended family were blessed with his support, kindness and encouragement for 46 years. Jim had a strong Catholic faith and loved storytelling, history, poetry and reading. Jim also enjoyed hiking and golf. His family feels a great loss at his passing, but the memory of his full and happy life inspires them to live and serve others as he did. In addition to his wife, Anne, Jim is survived by his stepdaughters, Sherry Pepper of Sonoita, AZ, Charl Maynard of Natick, MA and Tucson, AZ, Leslie Hoadley of Chicago, IL, and Mary Hansel of Portland, OR; stepsons, John Hansel of Burlington, NC and Brad Hansel of Chicago, IL; sisters-in-law, Daretha Van Auken of White Sulphur Springs, MT and Sue Van Auken of Gainesville, FL; nephews, Phil Van Auken of Billings, MT, Wendall Van Auken of Walnut Creek, CA and Bill Van Auken of Jackson Heights, NY. Predeceasing Jim were his sister, Cynthia Van Auken of Tucson, AZ and his brothers, Philip Van Auken of Billings, MT, Peter Van Auken of White Sulphur Springs, MT and Wendall Van Auken of Gainesville, FL. A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Jim's life will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Tucson. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.Obituary
James L. Van Auken 90, a native of Buffalo, Wyoming who resided in Tucson, Arizona for over 60 years, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2012. Jim worked for over 30 years as a Livestock and Brand Inspector for the Arizona Livestock Sanitary Board throughout Southern Arizona. Well-known among local ranchers, he loved working with them and came to know the southern Arizona landscape like the back of his hand. Jim was born November 6, 1921 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and grew up on his father's ranch in Johnson County, Wyoming. Following his father's premature death in the late 1930s, Jim took over the family's horse breeding operation and was registered as the youngest Remount stallion owner in the US. Jim graduated in 1939 from Johnson County High School (Buffalo, Wyoming) and attended Notre Dame University. As a Navy officer, he served on a sub tender during the Second World War, though hostilities ended before he saw action. In 1966 he married Anne Bradstreet Hansel in Tucson, and her four children and their extended family were blessed with his support, kindness and encouragement for 46 years. Jim had a strong Catholic faith and loved storytelling, history, poetry and reading. Jim also enjoyed hiking and golf. His family feels a great loss at his passing, but the memory of his full and happy life inspires them to live and serve others as he did. In addition to his wife, Anne, Jim is survived by his stepdaughters, Sherry Pepper of Sonoita, AZ, Charl Maynard of Natick, MA and Tucson, AZ, Leslie Hoadley of Chicago, IL, and Mary Hansel of Portland, OR; stepsons, John Hansel of Burlington, NC and Brad Hansel of Chicago, IL; sisters-in-law, Daretha Van Auken of White Sulphur Springs, MT and Sue Van Auken of Gainesville, FL; nephews, Phil Van Auken of Billings, MT, Wendall Van Auken of Walnut Creek, CA and Bill Van Auken of Jackson Heights, NY. Predeceasing Jim were his sister, Cynthia Van Auken of Tucson, AZ and his brothers, Philip Van Auken of Billings, MT, Peter Van Auken of White Sulphur Springs, MT and Wendall Van Auken of Gainesville, FL. A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Jim's life will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Tucson. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.
Events
11:00 AM
TUCSON, AZ 85716