I had the opportunity to visit with John over the last couple of months including his last day, we laughed we bitched but we had a good time, love you brother, you will be missed.

Johnny was not only a fantastic Uncle, he was my friend! Him and I spent many good times hunting, it didn’t matter if we bagged any game or not. Johnny would tell stories while sitting at the campfire, sometimes we would have serious talk, but mostly we would laugh John had an interesting sense of humor and could tell a joke about any topic. I cannot explain how important uncle John was to me. From a young boy to an adult John was very special. Rest in peace my friend, no more pain!

I love you, Tom

I am so thankful to have an Uncle like John. Where no matter what happened in life, good or bad. He was always there trying to make you laugh trying to help you get through it. And I'm truly blessed that my daughter's got to meet him. Some of their best memories are camping with him and hearing all of his stories and one of my greatest memories is sitting around with him. Talking about John Wayne movies and which ones were his favorites. I will continue to keep his memory alive by telling the stories of all the crazy insane stuff he did and how amazing he was. 

Our last B.S Session with loud music

Amy’s wedding

Amy’s wedding

John and Becky

My condolences to Becky and family. I met John when I  started dating his brother Jim (around 1979) and we would often play cards on weekends. I remember many penny poker games at John and Becky's house! But probably the time I remember most was the camping trip to Trapper's Lake.  I have pictures to prove it! Sadly we lost touch and I never met any of John's kids other than Deric and Natalie. 

Trip to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Uncle John plays a big role in most of my earliest memories. But let me tell you about the day that I learned what a hero was. It was 1970 something I was three or four. John and his family lived just down the street in the same trailer park. It was Christmas and I remember all I wanted in this whole world was a Barbie big wheel with the streamers. Well somehow I managed to be a good enough kid to get that Barbie big wheel that year. Dad put it together and I rode it until dark. Not too long after we were all wrangled in the house and getting ready for bed Dad heard a commotion outside. He went out and I heard angry voices. I went running. I got to the door just in time to see John coming out of his house just as angry as Dad. My memory is a little fuzzy but if I recall he was in a pair of whitey tighties and a t-shirt. Dad yelled at John and John came running out of that house faster than the wind and they took off. There was a little gang of neighborhood punks who had been stealing all the little kids big wheels and crashing them down in the concrete culvert behind our Park. Dad and John were gone for what seemed like hours. I don't remember their story about what happened but needless to say I no longer had a Barbie big wheel. Over the years this story has come to mind on so many occasions. As a kid I cried tears of sadness because I didn't get my Barbie big wheel after all. When I became a teen I cried tears over the thought of this memory because it brought me back to a place of innocence and childhood where all I wanted was a Barbie big wheel. But as an adult I cried tears of pride. I cried tears of pride because of the passion in which my dad and my uncle went running after my Barbie big wheel. It was partially because they knew what it meant to me, and from what I understand I was a pretty cute kid. But it was mostly because of what it cost. We didn't have much money back then. that Barbie big wheel meant the world to me and my dad made sure I had it. I can just imagine how proud my dad was that he could provide that gift for me. But mostly to me, that day was the day that I recognized my first hero. It was my uncle john. And it wasn't just because he tried to get my big wheel back, later in life I realized that he wasn't necessarily going after my big wheel. He was trying to help my dad save what he worked so hard to provide for his family. He ran out in the cold in his underoos to save his brothers pride. That's a hero to me. So thank you Uncle John, for being a good brother, a good dad, and the best damn Uncle ice cream a girl could ever ask for. You'll always be my first hero

Becky, Deric, Natalie, Michelle, and Karla we are so sorry for your loss. We have so many fond memories of John. When I was a kid I always looked up to Uncle John. John and Deric would go camping and fishing with our family at Walden. We had more picnics and poker games than I can count. I even worked with John for a few years. John and my dad were so close, they were always there for each other. John and Dad were brothers and friends and even worked together twice. Once my dad was his boss the other time John was the boss, John told me it did not matter that he was the boss Dad being the older brother still told him what to do. John also told me at my dad’s memorial that he thought of my mom and dad as his second parents after Grandma and Grandpa passed away. John we will love and miss you always.

God Bless You All!

 Love Charlie and Chris 

Hi, my name is Doug Grosch. I am very sorry for your loss. I remember your Dad. I remember John! 

 He was probably my Dads best friend when I was young. I remember being at a lake on boats, at night, fishing , with lights floating in the water. There was about 20-30 other boats close enough to hear someone whisper in the dead silence, they were getting a bite. In that quiet, one of John's girls yells out " Pew daddy! You FARTED!!"

Laughter erupted from the whole fishing armada at once! There was enough light from the floating fishing lights in the water to see silhouettes falling out of seats, jumping up and down, clapping, whistling, cheering. 

On my boat my Dad was crying and struggling to breathe. Merle dropped his pole. It was amazing to see how much cheer John could hand out being John. I always thought he was cool because you guys would take your boat and have a tent on the beech.  Away from everyone while my people were packed into a camper in a shoulder to shoulder campground.

Sorry for your loss,

Doug