Johnnie Howard French

JULY 30, 1946 - DECEMBER 27, 2020

Johnnie Howard French went to be with the Lord, peacefully, on December 27th, 2020 by his family and friends.

He was born on July 30th, 1946 to Howard Henry French and Mina

Rosina French, in Denver, Colorado, at the old St. Anthony's Hospital.

The first French family residence, with Johnnie, was on a dry land farm east of Colorado Springs in Yoder, Colorado. Johnnie fell into the stock water tank and held on to the edge for dear life until his father pulled him out. The family then moved to Denver, 644 South Lowell Blvd. Johnnie attended Eagleton Elementary School, where the family then moved to 1105 South Vrain St. Johnnie then attended Westwood Elementary School where he lived through elementary to Kepler Jr. High School. Johnnie graduated from Lincoln High School in 1964. He initially wanted to study theology at a Baptist seminary, but seminary studies were short lived.

Johnnie was drafted in the US Army in 1967, at the age of 21. He completed his basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas until contracting pneumonia and had to repeat much of his training once he recovered. He then completed Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. From there he was designated to Fort Lewis, Washington for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, D Company. Through his tour he was designated as a "Straight-leg" infantryman with a grenadier Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). He carried an M-79 Grenade Launcher in addition to the M-16 rifle and primarily saw combat in the Central Highlands of the Republic of South Vietnam forward observation bases (FOB). His usual duties entailed building combat fortifications placements of wire and explosives, perimeter sweeps, patrols as well as search and destroy operations. He was shot at several times and fired his weapons several times.

On three different occasions he was involved in numerous firefights and he recalled witnessing the death of several American and Vietnamese soldiers.

Johnnie received the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Overseas bars and the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After Johnnie's return from Vietnam, he lived in Flagler, Colorado, where his parents, Howard and Rosina were living for a period of time. In Flagler, he was a police officer for the City of Flalger. He later moved, with his parents, to Payette, Idaho, where he was a deputy sheriff for the Payette County Sheriff's Office for three years. He then reenlisted in the US Army with a $2500.00 reenlistment program. He was stationed with the 7th Army in Wiesbaden, West Germany. He served 18 months and then was honorably discharged.

Johnnie then returned to Aurora, Colorado. In 1987, he met the love of his life, Cora (Kim) Holmes and was married to her on October 29th, 1988. Johnnie & Kim were truly blessed for many years! In 1993, they were again blessed with a son, Nathan Loren French.

Johnnie loved his family and was always concerned and worried about Kim and Nathan. He was diagnosed with PTSD, a severe case of dementia, in his later life and was diagnosed with Esophagus Cancer,

Stage 3 on December 23, 2020. On December 26, 2020, he suffered a stroke and passed away December 27th, 2020 in the arms of his wife of 32 years.

Johnnie is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Cora (Kim), his loving son, Nathan Loren, his brother, Robert French, his mother-inlaw, Betty Joan Holmes and his brother-in-laws, Clay, Troy and Dean Holmes, as well as numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Johnnie was loved admired by many friends and will be truly missed by those who called him son, brother, husband, father and friend. He is in a truly better place with the Lord.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.