Obituaries

Obituaries

John B. Etchepare

John B. Etchepare died Nov. 24, 2013 at home in Fort Collins, surrounded by his family. Heaven needed another shepherd.

He was born in Helena, Montana April 22, 1939 to Paul and Hellen Dean Etchepare. After graduating from Randall High School in Denver, he attended Montana State University and was employed by Martin Marietta before managing a lamb feeding operation. He married Katherine Schraeder in 1961 and they had five children. She preceded him in death in 1990.

For over 30 years John operated his family’s Warren Livestock Company, with his father and brother until its sale in 2000. Additionally, he served as a Director on many state, regional and national Boards. He was a past President of the Wyoming Wool Growers, Western Range Association and the Old West Museum, and served on the Boards of the Production Credit Association, the American Sheep Industry, the American Lamb Feeders. In 2009 he retired as the State of Wyoming Director of Agriculture.

John is survived by his wife Karen Rose, seven children and twelve grandchildren. Mike (Kerry) Etchepare, Emporium, Pennsylvania; Mark (Kolette) Etchepare, Cheyenne; Janine (Jon) Roaldson, Bismarck, North Dakota; John Etchepare Jr. (Corrina), Cheyenne; Robert Etchepare (Valerie), Colorado; Jim (Susie) Brailsford, Fort Collins; John (Sarah) Brailsford, Fort Collins. He is also survived by four siblings, Claire Markowitz, Nevada; Angie (Colin) Carter, Australia; Toni (Bill) Thomson, Cheyenne; Paul Etchepare Jr., Laramie. His parents, youngest brother Ralph Etchepare, and brother-in-law Mark Markovitz preceded him in death.

John chose to donate his organs for the study of pancreatic and prostate cancer, and Alzheimer’s research. Cremation was under Bohlender Funeral Chapel, Fort Collins.

Christopher Peter Jouflas

Christopher Peter Jouflas, 87, passed away on Dec. 12, 2013 at his home in Grand Junction surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with cancer. Chris was born Nov. 18, 1926, to the late Peter and Dorothy Jouflas in Grand Junction.

He graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1944, served in U.S. Army Air Corps and attended Mesa Junior College and University of Colorado. On October 25, 1953, he married Connie Simos, of Craig.

Along with Connie, he is survived by four children: Denise (Carl) Jouflas-Lipp , Peter (Kristy) Jouflas, Georgann (Bill Shanahan) Jouflas, of Grand Junction and Steve (Carrie) Jouflas, of Glenwood Springs. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Karlie and Alex Jouflas, Hadley Jouflas, Carl Lipp, Brady and Zoe Shanahan. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother George.

He grew up in the ranching business, spending summers in Basalt, Wolcott and Vail along with winters in Mesa County. The son of Greek immigrants, he was a man of intense love for his faith, family, friends, Western Colorado and his country. Chris was passionately involved in ranching for more than 50 years.

Chris was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1992.

He served the sheep industry on a local, state and national level as president of the Colorado Woolgrowers, president of the American Sheep Producers Council and chairman of the board of directors of the Agriculture Council of America.

He served Colorado as director of the Colorado River District and was appointed to the Governor’s Water Round Table and Mined Land Reclamation Board.

He acted as agriculture committee chairman of Club 20 and served on oil shale, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management advisory boards.

Chris was a spiritual man and was one of the original founders of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and served as parish president.

The archbishop of North and South America appointed Chris to the order of St. Andrew Archons.

As a Mason, he achieved Blue Lodge member, 32 Degree Scottish and York Rite and Shrine status.

He touched many lives with his integrity, honesty, generosity, work ethic and wonderful sense of humor. He loved his family and they loved him.

Visitation was held at St. Nicholas Church, followed by a Trisagion service. The funeral service was held at St. Nicholas Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.