James R. Wostenberg

Born to Frederick Christopher Wostenberg and Alice Gertrude Morin on February 6, 1936, James (Jim) Robert Wostenberg was welcomed into a loving and lively family, on a farm in Kansas. He is survived by his older sister Elizabeth Lenz, Wray CO, and two younger brothers Walter (Annette) Wostenberg, Arvada, CO and Henry Wostenberg, (Canada); his four children: William (Janice) Wostenberg of Cypress, CA, Teresa (Dale) Osborne of Tucson, AZ, Mary (Jerry) Menke of Fountain Valley, CA, David Wostenberg of Yuma, AZ, 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two more great-grandchildren in utero. His older brother, Fredrick (Carol) Wostenberg, Boulder, CO, predeceased him.

Jim learned quickly how to work hard and to make the best of every situation. He even told us that he rode his horse home from kindergarten at lunchtime and told his mother that there would be no more school, and he remained home for the remainder of the school year. Jim believed strongly in independence and self-sufficiency. One day, he tried to drive the family truck on his own (much earlier than he should have), backed it right into the barbed wire fence, but was not phased. He enlisted the help of his brothers and repaired the fence before his parents were home. His love for independence embodied itself in his enlistment in the United States Navy from 1955-1959, directly after he completed high school. At a dance in Long Beach, CA, he met the love of his life, Linda Katherine Scheier, and soon married her (November 23, 1957). After the Navy, Jim worked multiple jobs while working on his higher education. He attended several universities, including the University of Colorado, Compton College. He completed Beach his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at California State University at Long while working a full time job and raising his four children. His many jobs included a sample carrier at Great Western Sugar Company, a test technician at North American Aviation, a senior test engineer at Roto Test Labs, a research assistant and test engineer at Huges Aircraft, and a test engineer at Ogden Technology Labs. His jobs brought him into contact with many spacecrafts needing environmental testing for the harsh conditions of space and the stress of launch. Whenever anyone asked his opinion on Roswell, NM, he would get a slight smile and simply state that the aluminum type metal found on the “spaceships” were the same materials we used on spacecraft. Jim was a Lab Manager was employed for 27 consecutive years when took advantage of the special retirement package offered by Hughes Space and Communications Company, a division of Hughes Aircraft Company.

In his later years, Jim enjoyed traveling the States with his lovely wife to see historic sites. Often, grandchildren were invited to join them on their trips. His grandchildren lovingly referred to him as Grumpy Bear and were never in doubt of his love for them. Ever striving to share knowledge and the love of learning with his family, he assisted with homeschooling his eight youngest grandchildren. Jim held on even during very hard times of health until he was able to peacefully lay to rest his wife in April of 2024. As the last shovel full of dirt was piled onto her grave, he quipped, “I don’t know why they are even bothering to do that. They will just have to dig it up again soon.” He passed peacefully at home on July 27, 2024, in the Tucson, AZ, home that he and Linda lovingly designed together for their final years. He was a devout Catholic and was a quiet but strong witness to his faith. Grant eternal rest, O Lord, unto thy servant, and let perpetual light shine upon him.