John T. Minow

John T. Minow, age 92, of Lakewood passed away December 17, 2016. He was born in Olive, MT, and grew up on the Cross S ranch. He attended high school in Broadus, MT, where he graduated valedictorian of his senior class. After high school, he attended college at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, for one year before he was drafted into the military during World War II. He served in the 94th Infantry Division in Europe where he saw action in France, Belgium, and Germany, including service in General Patton's Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the armistice, he served in the occupation force in Czechoslovakia before his discharge from the Army. He received the Bronze Star for bravery in action with one Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to several campaign medals. Following the war, he returned to college at University of Montana in Missoula, MT, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry. John worked summers as a fire lookout for the Forest Service in northern Idaho during his college years and then joined the Forest Service full time following graduation. His first Forest Service positions were on the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming as Assistant Ranger and then District Ranger. It was during this time that he met Wilma McRevey and they were married in Laramie, WY, on April 29, 1955. In the first years of their marriage, the Minows lived at Sandstone Ranger Station during the summers and in Rawlins, WY, during the winters. In 1958, they moved to Creede, CO, where John served as the District Ranger. While in Creede, their three sons, Charles, Joseph, and Paul, were born. From Creede, John was transferred to Custer, SD, where he was a staff officer on the Black Hills National Forest. The family then moved to Lakewood, CO, for a short time when John was reassigned to the Region 2, Rocky Mountain Regional Office. He was promoted to the position of the Forest Supervisor of the Gunnison National Forest and the family moved to Gunnison, CO, where they lived for the next six years. During this time, John renewed an interest in outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, skiing, and exploring the Colorado back country with his family. The family then moved from Gunnison to Delta, CO, when John was reassigned as the Forest Supervisor for the newly combined Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. This new assignment in western Colorado provided the opportunities for John and his family to explore the San Juan mountains, Uncompahgre Plateau, and the Canyonlands and Arches area of southeastern Utah. John's last Forest Service transfer returned him to Lakewood, CO, and the Regional Office where he worked in Range Management until his retirement on February 29, 1980. His final position with the Forest Service at retirement was the Assistant to the Deputy, Range Management for the Rocky Mountain Region. John's retirement years were very active. John and Wilma traveled extensively by car around the United States, ultimately visiting 49 of the 50 states. They regularly visited their sons at locations in Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama, as well as making numerous trips to visit his brothers and family in southeastern Montana and his wife's family in Illinois. When at home, he enjoyed working hard on his lawn and gardens in the summers and was active in the Forest Service retiree community in the Denver area and the local AARP Chapter. He enjoyed reading books on a wide variety of topics in American history. In recent years, he enjoyed summer weekends with his family at their place near Walsenburg, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Dora (Kiosse) Minow, brother William Minow, sister-in-law Lorraine Minow, brother Jim Minow, and his wife Wilma Minow. John is survived by sons Charles Minow, Lakewood, Joseph (Pamela Croom) Minow, Huntsville, AL, and Paul (Nancy) Minow, Alamosa, CO. Grandfather of Bonnie Ortega and Rob (Nichole) Hopper, both of Alamosa, CO. Great-grandfather of Tyler, Riley and Raelle Ortega and Braiden and Tinlee Hopper. Brother of Pete (June) Minow, Miles City, MT. Brother-in-law to Harriet Minow, Sydney, MT. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 28 December, at Horan and McConaty, 3101 South Wadsworth, Lakewood. Visitation from 9 – 10 AM will precede the service at 10 AM with interment following at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Staging Area B, at 11:30 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Forest Foundation (nationalforests.org) and the Rocky Mountaineers (rockymountaineers.us).