James A. "Jim" Schopen passed away on February 13, 2015, due to complications related to Parkinson's.

He was born in Lead on June 5, 1936, the youngest of six children, to the family of Fred and Martha (Schock) Schopen. He attended St. Patrick's elementary school and graduated from Lead High School in 1955.

Jim was drafted in 1960 and served in the U.S. Army until 1963, stationed in Germany and serving part of his time on the Army ski patrol. Jim was briefly employed by Homestake Mining Co. He later purchased the Twin City Redi-Mix Plant and several other local businesses.

James also became part-owner of the Terry Peak Ski Area and was actively involved in its development and operations. He installed several of the original chairlifts and was instrumental in bringing snowmaking to Terry Peak, which included drilling an 800 foot well to find water below the slopes of Stuart hill. Jim also constructed the Schopenhaus dormatory at the base of Terry Peak, which was later renovated and became one of the ski area's chalets.

James also worked on the demolition of many notable structures in Lead including the Assembly Hall on Lead's Central School Campus, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Grier Apartments, Homestake Hospital, and Lead Bakery.

In 1964, James married Judy Gullickson. The couple had two sons, Tony and Scott. He was a loving father and devoted husband, providing diligent care and support to Judy during her long illness. In 2006, Jim was married to Sherry Lewis Toms.

Jim was an avid skier, snowmobiler, and long-time member of the Lead Country Club. He loved to hunt when he was younger and enjoyed exploring the back roads in the Black Hills throughout his life.

James is survived by his wife, Sherry of Lead; his sons, Tony and Scott; Tony's wife, Trevor, and grandsons, Tyler, Gage, and Wells of San Francisco; his sisters, Irene Kennison and Dolores Mattson; sisters-in-law, Arlene Schopen and Delores Sentovich; and brother-in-law, Don Olson.

Services will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at St. Patrick's Church in Lead at 10:00 a.m.

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