Jerry Johnson

Jerry Edwin Johnson, 87, of Lakewood passed away peacefully with his two daughters by his side on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Born on April 24, 1931 in Denver, Colorado he was the son of Edwin and Dorothy (Curtis) Johnson. After losing his father as a toddler, his mother remarried and he and his brother were raised by his step-father, Chelsey Conley.

Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Carol Hood and together they shared 56 years of marriage. Together they raised two daughters Susan and Nancy, built a custom home in Arvada, started their own Amway distributorship and shared a love of animals, music, good food and time spent at Netherwood Cottage, the family cabin in Palmer Lake, Colorado. Carol passed away in 2007.

Jerry enlisted in the Army in 1951 and worked with the Army Corps of Engineers while serving in Korea. After being discharged, Jerry attended the Colorado School of Mines where he obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering and worked his entire career in engineering and sales.

He was a deeply religious man and was an active member of the Peace Lutheran Church congregation in Arvada. His faith and moral character shaped his entire life and anyone who knew him would say he was one of the kindest, most honest and positive individuals they had ever met. He was also a relentless teaser with a goofball sense of humor.

In 1972, Jerry's life changed dramatically when he suffered a popliteal artery aneurism that resulted in the loss of his left leg above the knee. Not one to accept defeat, Jerry mastered the use of his prosthetic leg and never let it slow him down. He drove a stick shift, bowled, golfed and spent countless hours sharing the Westernaire lifestyle (a Lakewood-based precision horseback drill organization) with daughter Sue, served as an instructor with the Westernaires and managed the care of Sue's beloved horse Lucky.

He was a flying enthusiast and obtained his private pilot's license in the mid-1970's. He continued his passion by flying radio controlled aircraft and served as the Treasurer for the Arvada Associated Modelers from 2003 to 2013. He was also an avid sports fan and followed his favorites the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies.

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Susan Kitterman and her husband, David Kitterman and Nancy Rutledge and her husband, Frank Rutledge, his brother Don Johnson and his wife Joan Johnson, his nephew Paul Johnson and niece Sandra Deaver and their families. A life-long dog lover, he will also be missed by his ""granddogs"" Penny Roo, Ivy and Kacy Lane.