Jonathan Hays

Judge Jonathan Hays, 81 of Greeley, passed away September 16, 2014 at Hospice of Northern Colorado. Jon was born May 13, 1933 in Pittsburgh, PA, to James McFadden Hays and Florence (Schmalhorst) Hays. He married Jaclyn Willner on July 25, 1961 in Boulder, CO, with whom he had a daughter, Alexandra. Jon and Jackie divorced in 1963. Jon married Roberta Schaufele on November 17, 1965 in Boulder, CO, with whom he had a daughter, Samantha.

Jon graduated from high school in Kings Mills, OH in 1950, where he lived with his aunt, uncle, and three cousins, before moving to Boulder to attend CU. During college, Jon decided he needed something more challenging than academics, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His service began on August 18, 1953, studying microwave and radio technology; among his duties were repair and maintenance of the antennas on top of the Pentagon. Jon was honorably discharged on June 17, 1955, and returned to CU, graduating in 1960 with his B.A. in Psychology.

After college, Jon spent his time exploring various forms of employment, including driving a truck for several lumber companies in Denver, laboring at the Climax Molybdenum Mine, and managing Ome Banjo Company in Boulder, before deciding to pursue a career in law.

Jon graduated from CU Law School in 1968 with his J.D. He was a public defender for Adams County before becoming the first public defender for Weld County. Jon later joined the District Attorney’s office, and was then selected for a County Judgeship in 1973. He was appointed District Judge by Governor Lamm in 1975, became one of the state’s nine Water Judges in 1994, and retired in 2003. Jon served as a senior judge until 2007.

Jon thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, hiking and backpacking the entire Grand Canyon from rim to rim and end to end over the years. He also hiked parts of the Colorado Trail and explored the Southwest deserts of the Four Corners. A natural born ham, Jon was a member of several Greeley community theater groups, performing in many plays and musicals. As a lover of music, he played piano, guitar, and sang with the Greeley Chorale. Jon also served the community as a member of various boards of directors, including Island Grove Regional Treatment Center and Greeley Center for Independence. His leisurely pursuits included learning Spanish, completing New York Times crossword puzzles in ink, playing bridge, and shooting pool.

He is survived by his wife Bert Hays, Greeley; daughters Alexandra (Bert) Borgmann, Aurora, CO, and Samantha Hays, Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren, Jonathan Logan Borgmann, and Callie Borgmann, both of Aurora, CO; two of his cousins, Pete Blickensderfer, CA and Rob Blickensderfer, OR, and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James McFadden Hays and Florence Hays.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on October 12, 2014 at the University of Northern Colorado Ballroom.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Keenesburg, CO) in care of Allnutt Macy Chapel 702 13th St., Greeley CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.