James "Bruce" Eden

Longtime Cheyenne Wells, Colorado resident James “Bruce” Eden passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 2, 2019 at the Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado surrounded by his family. Bruce was born on May 6, 1964 to Jimmie Lee (Turner) and Jack Arnold Eden, Sr.  in Boise City, Oklahoma.  He was the youngest of 3 children, including his sister LuAnn and brother Jack Jr. Bruce attended school in Campo, Colorado and graduated from Campo High School in 1982.  During his school years he participated in baseball, basketball, band and trap shooting. He loved skiing, fishing and water skiing in his boat that he purchased with his friend Rick. He also loved motorcycles which were not a  good idea for him. His first motorcycle accident left him with two broken wrists one summer. This would be tough for anyone, but proved to be even worse considering he was a teenager with his mom as his caregiver.  The worst accident, at age 18, was a dirt bike wreck in a mud puddle leaving him with staff infection in his knee. Numerous doctors would not touch his knee, they wanted to amputate.  Luckily his doctor in LA Junta found a surgeon in Wichita, Kansas who was willing to save his leg. I can only admire his mom for her strength in raising him. In 1988 he moved to Cheyenne Wells to work at Temple and Esgar  for George Temple.  Here in this tiny town he met his wife Cindy. George sold the elevator to Cargill where we worked for over 20 years.  He then went to work for Cheyenne County District 2 road and bridge for 10 years working with heavy equipment and road graders. He was currently working for Simplot hauling fertilizer and his passion, driving a semi-truck. He loved being in the truck. He was a hard working man using his vacation days during summer and fall harvest to haul grain. Bruce and Cindy were married on  December 10, 1988 at a chapel located on Lookout Mountain outside of Denver. They would have celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary next week. In his earlier years he enjoyed going to the RC Car Racing with his son JD.  He was an outdoors man whether it was hunting, fishing, hiking in the mountains or taking walks with his beloved dog Tiffany he loved it all.  He was also quite the jokester, making everyone laugh often.  You really had to stay on your toes!   He convinced Ayden and Austin that he had a pig in his pocket and he offered several hurts donuts. In the later years he enjoyed woodworking and taught his grandson Bradley what he knew. He is preceded in death by his son JD Eden, his dad Jack Arnold Eden, Sr., and father-in-law Dan Gemmill, Grandparents Oscar and Lillie Eden and Uel and Lelea Turner. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Cindy Eden of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, his son Cody Eden of Colorado Springs, Colorado, his daughters; Brandi (Sergio) Baquera and their children; Matteo, Elysia, and Alexander all of Burlington, Colorado, Candice (Brian) Campbell and their children; Bradley, Aubrianna, Annalise, Avangelena and Brevyn all of Chanute, Kansas, his mother Jimmie Lee Eden of Dalhart, Texas, his brother Jack Arnold (Janice) Eden, Jr. of Wichita, Kansas, his sister LuAnn (Leroy) Schaffner of Dalhart, Texas and mother-in-law Patty Gemmill of Wraytown, Missouri.  Also surviving him are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bruce will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorials may be made in Bruce's name and may be left at or sent to the Eastern Colorado Bank, PO Box 888, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado 80807.