John ""Jack"" L. Anthony

John L. Anthony ""Jack"", a life-time North Denver resident, passed away peacefully at home on Thanksgiving morning, November 28th, 2013. His wife of 64 years, Lois Ann, left him in good spirits and health at 8:45 am to attend morning Mass. Feeling particularly energetic that morning, he had asked Lois to gather a few items for him as he, always the engineer, had a project he wanted to complete while she was away. Jack's sister, Marjorie, called the Anthony home about 9 am to wish Jack and Lois a Happy Thanksgiving. She reports that Jack sounded well and enthusiastic when she phoned. Lois returned home from Mass about 10:30 am. She found her husband sitting up, but non-responsive. Lois is sure that Jack passed away as she was receiving Holy Communion. Lois was able to spend Thanksgiving in the company of many of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that very same afternoon. The family took time to reminisce about grandpa and happy memories, laughing a little, crying a little and enjoying the comfort of each other's love. Jack was born to Eugenia Leonard and Ward Roth Anthony on January 19, 1926. St. Dominic Church was built and opened early in 1926 and Jack was one of the first babies to be baptized there. He continued to attend St. Dominic for the rest of his life. Jack often recounted fond and funny memories of his brothers and sisters: Marjorie Evelyn (Atkinson), Mary Jean (Gleason), brother Ward Robert, Theresa Florine ""Tony"" (Scanlon), and Helen Ann ""Sr. Antonia"", a Franciscan Nun. Jack's siblings' families were an important part of all of the Jack Anthony family memories and traditions. These families spent uncountable holidays, time at ""Grandma's cabin"" and other memorable occasions together. The annual Anthony vs. Anthony football game was a longstanding tradition. To the very end of his life, Jack was visited by and was very fond of his many nieces and nephews, too numerous to name. He continued to communicate monthly or even weekly with some of them, and had visited with many, many of them in the final months of his life. I am sure that they loved their Uncle Jack, too. Jack was a serious student and could see the handwriting on the wall concerning WWII. Jack doubled his coursework at Regis High School, knowing that on January 19th, 1944 he would turn 18 years old, and the army would require his services. Jack was able to graduate from high school with high honors before he was deployed as an infantryman in the US Army during WWII. He served in France and Germany and saw much of battle and bloodshed. Jack survived and was honorably discharged at the end of the war in March of 1946. After returning home from the front he was pleasantly surprised to become reacquainted with the lovely Lois Ann Larkin, whom he had known as a childhood friend. They dated for the three and a half years it took Jack to complete his college degree at the University of Colorado Boulder in Physics/Engineering. A month after he graduated, Jack and Lois were wed here, at St. Dominic Church, on June 18, 1949, a marriage that produced ten children in fourteen years (whoo hoo Jack!) Soon thereafter, Jack began working for the Martin Marietta Corporation and stayed there for over 20 years. At the height of the Viet Nam War his conscience prohibited him from further participating in the development of military weapons, which was his job at Martin. With a family of 10 children at home to be provided for, he nevertheless quit Martin and spent the rest of his working years repairing electronics and selling furniture at Anthony's Used Furniture Store in North Denver. Over the years he was heavily involved in church activities, community projects, and local politics. His chief joys were his Catholic faith, spending time with family and friends, inventing, creating and repairing, investing his money in the stock market, watching Bronco games, and discussing politics. He is survived by his brother Ward and sister, Marjorie, his wife, Lois, and nine of his ten children and their spouses and families: Theresa, Daniel, Kathleen, Andrew, Benjamin, Anthony, William, Mary and Julie. He lived to see twenty-two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren born. He is preceded in death by his three other sisters, Florine, Mary Jean and Helen, and his daughter, Margaret, and grandson, Reuben. The Rosary and Funeral Mass will take place at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 29th & Federal, Monday, December 9, 2013 at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Dominic Catholic Church. Please share memories of Jack and condolences with his family by leaving a message in the ""Guestbook"" below.