Jim Sluzewski

Jim (James Nathan) Sluzewski passed away on July 24, 2020; he was born on April 10, 1979, in Crown Point, Indiana. Jim shared his time between Denver, CO, and Punta Gorda. Preceded in death by his brother, Rick; maternal grandparents Grace and Leonard Richardson and paternal grandparents Cecelia and Dr. Richard Sluzewski; and aunt Sharon Richardson. He is survived by his parents, Joyce and Rick (Dr. Richard) Sluzewski of Punta Gorda; aunts, uncles, and cousins in Indiana, Illinois, and Louisiana; and many friends in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Southern California, Baha California, Mexico, and Connecticut. 

Jim grew up in Northwest Indiana. He attended Highland Christian Elementary School, Highland, Indiana, Munster Middle and High School, Purdue University Calumet Campus, DePaul University, Chicago, and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Technical Writing with a minor in Business Management from Metropolitan State University, Denver. In October 2019, he earned a certificate in Massage Therapy from Cortiva Institute, Pompano Beach, Florida. 

Jim worked and excelled in sales beginning in Cub Scouts fundraisers. He continued his sales career in the roofing industry, residential and commercial, in Colorado where he worked as an installer, salesman, and estimator. He did sales in the IT industry, medical tourism, consumer electronics, commercial office supplies, and construction. Work took him to southern California and Mexico, in addition to Colorado and Florida. 

He played Little League Baseball, soccer and wrestled during junior high and high school.  At the age of 30, he began the study of Brazilian Jujitsu advancing to the rank of “Purple Belt.” He participated in multiple grappling submission tournaments in Florida, Colorado, and Las Vegas winning multiple 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals.  In 2014 he won first place in his weight and age class in the all Colorado tournament held in Denver. The amateur wrestling community was very important to him and he developed many friendships through the sport throughout the country. He always said wrestling people were “the best.” 

Jim was a lifelong student of U.S. and World History who loved watching documentaries, enjoyed fine art and spent many happy hours at the Art Institute of Chicago and visited other art museums during his travels, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. His favorite master was Salvador Dali.

Jim enjoyed fishing, especially for sharks in Florida, Chicago Cubs baseball, and the sport of MMA fighting as a spectator. As a result of a suggestion by a successful practitioner of jujitsu in Denver, Jim became an avid and active practitioner of yoga as a way to stay flexible and strong which he credited in part to his success in jujitsu. He loved to travel, live in and experience different places, customs, and foods, get to know people, and most importantly make friendships. He was a kind and helpful human being, loved hiking, animals, the natural beauty of our world, and experiencing something/anything new. When he traveled on business, he always found a local park to hike. His last trip in mid-June this year with 3 friends from Denver took them to hiking destinations in Colorado, Zion National Park, Utah, parks in Arizona, Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jim valued his friends greatly, never deleted a phone number or Facebook contact, and always reached out to old and new friends throughout the United States. He is greatly missed by his Mom and Dad and the many great friends he had throughout his world. 

To express condolences to the family and share in celebrating the life of Jim, please visit www.JohnsonTaylorFuneral.com and sign the online guestbook.  Arrangements are by Johnson Taylor Funeral and Cremation.