James Anton 'Jim' Koenig

James Anton ‘Jim’ Koenig passed away peacefully at the age of 88 at his home in Dolores, CO on October 25, 2020 with his son, Stacy Koenig, and daughter-in-law, Cindy (Walter) Koenig by his side.
A true native son of Dolores, CO, Jim was born on March 9, 1932 in Dolores, CO to Anton Koenig and Stephanie (Schauer) Koenig, both immigrants from Austria. Jim was the youngest of seven children, Carl, Elsie, Bill, George, Marguerite, Ida, and Jim. Jim lived and worked his entire life in Dolores, CO except for one year when he attended business school from 1950-1951 in Wichita, KS. Jim graduated from Dolores High School in May 1950 and married his high school sweetheart, Glenda (White) Koenig on January 15, 1951 in Oxford, KS. They had two children, a daughter, Gwendolyn Ann and a son, Stacy Gene. Jim became a young widower at the age of 37 when Glenda unexpectedly passed away on Nov 25, 1969. Jim married his second wife, Wanda Jean Barnes on October 14, 1971 in Dolores, CO. They enjoyed 47 years of marriage until Jean’s passing on December 26, 2017.
Jim owned and operated four successful businesses with his brother George Koenig, Koenig Bros. Texaco Station, Koenig Bros Lock and Key Service, Koenig Bros. Ice and Propane, and Koenig Brothers Security Storage. Jim kept himself busy with the locksmithing business until January 2020. Jim also found time to serve his community as a Dolores Town Board Trustee from April 1964 to April 1968 and as Mayor of Dolores from 1989 to 1991.
Jim was an avid fisherman and hunter of wild game and wild mushrooms. He was a man of many interests. A few of his favorite hobbies were making sausage/jerky, black powder shooting/hunting, leathercraft, gold panning, photography, making wine (DandyLion wine from dandelion blossoms and Wobbly Legs wine from beet juice), flint knapping, and telling jokes around town. Jim was known for his jokes and he enjoyed making people laugh.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, and sisters, and his two wives. He is survived by his daughter Gwendolyn Ann ‘Gwen” Griffin of Mancos, CO and son Stacy Gene Koenig and wife Cindy Sue (Walter) Koenig of Westminster, CO. He is also survived by four stepchildren, Randy Barnes of Belize, Barbie Johnson of Alamogordo, NM, Debbie Risenhoover of Canyon, TX, and Sherry Simpson of Whitesboro, TX; and four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren.
Per Jim’s request, no service will be held. Memorial contributions can be made in Jim’s name to Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez, CO 81321.