HARRISON — It is with sad hearts we tell of the passing on Saturday, May 28, 2022, of our dear husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend, James
Wilfred (Joseph) Colburn, at the house he lovingly built in 1967 in Bolsters Mills for his family.

He was the oldest son of James Benjamin and Florence Lucille (Bernier) Colburn, born September 13, 1944, in Putnam, Conn. He went from school at age 17 into
the U.S. Army and served honorably with the 82nd Airborne paratroopers for three years. He came to Maine in 1965 and always said it to be the best move he ever made. James loved his God, his Country, his family and his friends. James could always be counted on to lend a helping hand no matter what. As a youngster he rode his bike miles just to catch a few fish, hunt game and deliver more daily Connecticut newspapers than anyone else on the various routes, played soccer and baseball in school and excelled at both.

When very young he was a real Houdini, climbing from his crib and running down street to his pepe’s before he was even missed. Later when in Maine he coached little league baseball and helped start the local Harrison/Waterford Soccer team exchange that went alternate years to Montreal, Canada. He founded the Oxford Hills High School Soccer Club that later became the OHHS Soccer Team, they finished the year one game away from a state championship. He is still known affectionately as “Coach” by many of the kids. Often could be seen at the kitchen table drawing up plays for his team.

James was a self-taught Jack of all trades, cooked, planted, raised, harvested, and processed huge gardens, raised cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, ducks and tur- keys and became proficient at butchering and processing for family year-round consumption, along with many deer, moose, game birds and lots of fish, and smelts. Hunting and fishing were a real passion and he was good at both. He built a cold storage room in basement for storing all he raised and a complete meat room for the processing. Cutting

enough wood for the winter was a family project he enjoyed. He held many jobs over the years, starting at the Jennings Station in Norway, Goodwin's Dairy driving a big bulk milk truck all over the Oxford Hills area, janitor at Norway Savings Bank, and then working in several local postal facilities part-time.

James married Brenda J. Lord of Bolsters Mills in 1966 and built and lived in their house on Bolsters Mills Road with son Brian Wilmot and daughter Laura Ruth until Brenda’s un- timely death from leukemia in 1980. James married his wife of 41 years, Judith E. (Dexter) Colburn in 1981. She came to Bolsters Mills with her daughter, Jennifer E Wilson, and together James and Judith purchased and ran the Colburn’s General Store with the help of son Brian, until James was ap- pointed postmaster of the Harrison Post Office in 1985. The store was a wonderful way to meet the community and make many lasting friendships. James served as postmaster until 2004 when he retired. He was very proud of his appointment and always went the extra mile, no matter what the need or occasion. His customers and his bosses relied and depended on him and he never disappointed.

James was also a 50-Year Mason of Crooked River Lodge in Bolsters Mills and 49-year member of Elm Vale #105 Order of the Eastern Star. No one ever went away hungry from one of the many home-cooked suppers he prepared for the Lodge or anywhere he was called to cook.

Memorial Day was always special in Harrison as he marched in the Color Guard of the parade with his friends George, Stephen and Tony and others, even his brother Bob, brother-in-law Bill and nephew Andrew. James was also the longest standing member of the Bolsters Mills Methodist Church.

The frustration later in his life at being unable to do all the things he loved and wanted to do weighed heavy on him. He often said he was put on this earth to work, not to watch others do it for him. Taking care of my husband, learning from him and appreciating his unique talents and self-taught college of hard knocks was a privilege. James was a great storyteller and never missed an opportunity to share. The camp at Aziscohos lake was a great retreat after so many years of hard work and busy living life. Had many great hunting trips up there, especially the moose hunts — they were special. His one regret would be not going up there often enough. James was a proud man and very private. He was a friend of Bill Wilson. He will be greatly missed.

James is survived by his wife Judith, son Brian Colburn, daughter Laura Colburn and stepdaughter Jennifer Bry- ant (husband T.J.); granddaughters Brittney Leonard, Reese Bryant and Blake Bryant. Siblings Robert Colburn, Edward Colburn and Doreen Gerardi. Brothers-in-law William and (Linda) Dexter, Thomas and (Rose) Dexter and Frederick and Billie Stenzel. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

James was predeceased by his parents James B. and Flor- ence, his first wife Brenda (Lord) Colburn, three-year-old sister Debbie, Carol Notarianni, special nephew Andrew Gerardi and niece Stephanie Notarianni and his brother-in-law Stephen C. Dexter, and his father and mother-in-law, John and Edna Dexter of North Yarmouth.

Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 10 at the Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road in Casco. A graveside service with military honors will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 11 at the Bolsters Mills Cemetery, 605 Bolsters Mills Road in Harrison. Following the service, all are welcome to a time of fellowship at the Masonic Hall across the street from the cemetery.

Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in James’ memory to: Travis Mills Foundation, Health & Wellness Ctr., 747 Western Avenue, Manchester, ME 04351 or Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240.

Condolences and tributes may be shared at www.hallfuneralhome.net.