John W. Frederick

September 1, 1940 – March 27, 2016

John Walter Frederick, 75, unexpectedly passed away Sunday March 27, 2016 in Antigua, West Indies while vacationing.

John was born in Sheridan, MO September 1, 1940 to Clifford and Bertha Wisecup Frederick. The family moved to Colorado while he was a child and he graduated from Olathe High School. He met and married Maureen Mahaffey while studying Agricultural Economics at Colorado State University and they recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. He served his country as a Major in the Transportation Corps of the Army during the Vietnam War and continued serving in the Army Reserves until 1982. Upon returning from service, he started his lengthy career in banking at First National Bank and eventually becoming President of Grand Valley Bank. John took great pride in his role in serving and connecting with his customers and the Grand Valley community in that role. Having grown up on a farm and taking Agricultural Economics in College he understood what the Farmers and Ranchers needed and was able to mesh the two together successfully for the financial backing they needed from the bank.

John devoted his life to caring for the people in his life and was an incredibly loyal to his family and friends. He had three great loves: his family, travel and the outdoors. He travelled extensively in the United States, Mexico and Canada and discovered international travel later in life. He thoroughly enjoyed experiencing other people and cultures and was always looking for the next adventure. He initiated trips to Europe, South America and Australia with his wife, and travelled at different times with his four daughters in Europe and South America. He decided that he needed a couple of guy’s trips to balance it out and travelled to South Africa, Argentina and Chile with his sons-in-law. Bravely he travelled to both Jamaica and Turks and Caicos with his wife, daughters and sons-in-law, and grandchildren for a couple of special holidays thus sharing his love of travelling with all of them.

He loved sharing the mountains and the outdoors with others and his cabin on Grand Mesa which served as a gathering place for friends and family. John and Maureen opened up their home and the cabin to those closest to them. John loved to take everyone out to explore the surrounding national forest areas on four wheelers. Finally, and most importantly, John was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His grand-children were the light of his life and he took great joy in taking them four-wheeling, snowmobiling and spending time showing them how much he loved them by sharing his love of the outdoors.

John Frederick is survived by his wife, Maureen Mahaffey Frederick; his four daughters, Nancy Frederick Bell (Scott Bell) of Dover, OH, Diane Frederick Shay (Lyle Shay) of Albuquerque, NM, Deana Frederick Weber (Doug Weber) of Arvada, CO, and Karen Frederick Gallegos (Charles Gallegos)of Wheat Ridge, CO; and his beloved twelve grandchildren: Nico Mendez, Lauren Mendez, Conor Bell, Haley Gallegos, Emilyn Bell, Madison Gallegos, Lindsay Weber, Maisyn Shay, Faith Weber, Brianna Shay, Colton Gallegos and Caleb Gallegos. He is preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Gene. In addition, he leaves behind two sisters, Bonnie Regouby (Jack Regouby) of Tulsa, OK, and Marilyn Vanderhoofven (David Vanderhoofven) of Delta, CO; his cousin, Bob Frederick (Cathy Frederick) of Grand Junction, CO and a large extended family.

John will definitely be missed and the legacy that he leaves behind is his love for the community and his family.

Memorial services will be April 11, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Victory Life Church, 2066 Highway 6 and 50, Fruita, CO 81521. Reception immediately following. Private interment at Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

Funeral arrangements handled by Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.