James K. Zell

James Kenneth Zell, 81, of Cheyenne, passed away January 7, 2026 at his home in Cheyenne, due to natural causes. Jim was a dedicated and beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son, and friend, and was surrounded by the care and love of his family. 

Jim was born in Cheyenne on July 21, 1944 to Kathryn Mae Zell and Raymond Lawrence Zell, originally of Jacksonville, Illinois, and was the youngest of four children. Jim graduated from Cheyenne Central High School in 1962, and later attended the University of Wyoming where he earned a Master of Science degree in civil engineering in 1968. Jim started his career with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and then later worked for the Laramie County Community College physical plant beginning in 1977. He retired from LCCC in 2019 after nearly 42 years of dedicated service. 

Jim was an avid fan of University of Wyoming football and basketball, and enjoyed summer road trips with his family around the western US and Canada, and time spent with family during birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Jim loved music, and especially the early rock 'n' roll, doo wop, and vocal groups of the '50s and '60s, various bands including The Beach Boys and The Beatles and many songs of the British Invasion, and also enjoyed singers like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Marty Robbins, and Gordon Lightfoot. Jim loved mid-20th century Americana, and was also an aviation enthusiast and had an interest in 19th and 20th century history, all of which he shared with his son Brian with whom he was close. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Kathryn Mae Zell and Raymond Lawrence Zell, his brothers John Walter Zell and Raymond Leroy Zell, his sister Margaret Rose Jackson of Laramie, and her husband Gregg Jackson of Laramie, three uncles, three aunts, and a nephew. He is survived by his son, James Brian Zell of Cheyenne, his wife, Marie Theresa Zell of Cheyenne, his stepdaughter Lina Maria Merideth of Cheyenne and her daughter, his sister in law, a nephew, a niece, and three cousins. 

The Zell family would like to offer their sincerest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and other staff at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Enhabit Hospice Care, and all other individuals who helped care for Jim in the years, months, and weeks preceding his death. 

A visitation will be held at 3pm on Thursday, January 22, 2026, followed by a funeral service and burial on Friday, January 23 at 11am by the Schrader, Aragon, & Jacoby Funeral Home in Cheyenne, located at 2222 Russell Avenue, with Reverend Kellie Thomson officiating. Monetary donations may be made in Jim's honor to the University of Wyoming Alumni Association at www.pokes.org, or to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter at www.cheyenneanimalshelter.org/donate