John D. Peebles

John was born to Georgia and Denby Peebles in Quincy, Illinois, on August 2, 1925, and he spent his early years there along with his sister Marian. The family moved to South Denver when John was just a youngster. As a young man he took his first job as a paper boy for the Denver Post, and later was an apprentice garage mechanic & service station operator at the local gas station. Brothers Ed and William were born shortly thereafter. John attended Asbury Elementary School and South High School. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy to serve the country he loved. He served as a Radioman-Signalman in the Armed Guard & Electronic Technician in Submarines 1943-1946. John continued his Navy career in the Reserves from 1947 to 1975, retiring as a Commander. After WWII, John returned to Denver and attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. While in college, John joined the Theta Xi Fraternity, Alpha Eta Chapter, an organization he supported for the rest of his life. John met Mercedes Reichstein in Boulder in 1947, and they were married November 2, 1950. As young newlyweds, they picked up and moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico where John worked on the hydro power plant for the Bureau of Reclamation. Tired of the dust and heat of NM, they returned to Denver in 1951 where John began his career with Stearns-Roger as an Electrical Design Engineer. He remained with Stearns-Roger until he retired in 1983. During the 32 years he was: a Resident Engineer, Design Supervisor, Startup Engineer, Project Engineer, Assistant Manager of Power Engineering, Chief Electrical Engineer, and Assistant Manager of Power Engineering. Also during this time John and Mercedes welcomed the births of their son Michael and daughter Deborah. Retirement didn't slow him down one bit. At the age of 60, John learned to scuba dive with his daughter Deborah, and for the next 20+ years, he logged over 700 dives in places near and far. He achieved the level of Master Scuba Diver, and underwater photography became yet another interest and hobby. John's last dive trip was just a little over two years ago, to St. Kitts in the Eastern Caribbean. John and Mercedes also traveled the globe, primarily through the now-defunct travel club, Ports of Call. Their adventurous side was evident when they even took several ""Mystery Trips"" not knowing what their final vacation destination would be until they actually boarded the plane. John's amateur radio call sign, W0LBA has been active since he was a young man, and he was a Life Member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association. Many evenings were spent in his basement office/radio shack, speaking to other ham radio operators on the other side of the world. He loved sharing his passion for amateur radio, and hoped that he could instill this interest in the next generation. He conducted several classes on Morse code for his son's Boy Scout Troop. He loved God and country, and was a member of the St. Philip & St. James Episcopal church for over 50 years. A patriot through and through, John was an active member in many patriotic organizations such as: the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the Navy League. He was a life-long learner, who believed strongly in education and giving back to the community. John and Mercedes founded a scholarship for engineering students at CU that will continue on in perpetuity, and he was a tireless volunteer and board member for several non-profit organizations. He was a faithful friend, mentor, supporter, husband, and father. He lived a full and successful life, and will be missed by many. John is survived by his wife Mercedes, son Michael (Jacquee), daughter Deborah (John) Ross, and brother William (Maxine). Although there were no grandchildren, John adored all three of his 'granddogs'. Contributions in John's name may be made to: the Max Fund (1025 Galapago St Denver, CO 80204) www.maxfund.org or to the American Cancer Society (2255 S Oneida St, Denver, CO 80224) www.cancer.org. The following was found in some of John's files: When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me. I want no rites in a gloom filled room. Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not too long And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared. Miss me – but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take. And each must go alone. It's all part of the Master plan – A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick of heart Go to the friends we know. And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds. Miss me – but let me go. Author unknown.