John "Johnny" R. Strecker

John lived a rich and full life. He was born in Marietta, OH, the youngest of four brothers and one sister. The Streckers settled in Marietta from Germany in the late 19th century and were well known and respected there. Dad answered the call to duty when he was old enough and joined the Army in 1945. He was trained as a tank driver but as the war was ending when he arrived, he spent most of his time guarding Nazi generals in Assmannshausen, Germany. He also acted in the USO and performed in the Front Page. He was also a drummer in the troop’s band.

After his discharge, John was accepted into Cornell University (with a little help from his brother Art who was getting his PhD there at the time!) John graduated with a degree in Geology. Dad was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. While in school he met the love of his life, Ruth Minor. Ruth was only 17 and her mother insisted that John wait until she turned 18 to court her. He waited to the day and quickly won her over and married her in 1950.

Dad and Mom moved to Utah and he worked in the Kennecott copper mine. After a short stint there he moved into the oil and gas industry which landed them in Casper, WY. While there, they adopted there Stephen. In 1959, they moved to Denver where dad took a job with DepCo as an exploration geologist. They bought a home in Lakewood that year and soon after adopted their son, Alan and daughter Shauna.

John fell in love with the west. He became familiar with the back country of the Dakota’s, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado while sitting wells, reading logs, and doing oil exploration. He then spent weeks at a time camping, hunting and fishing with his wife and children. Dad was an expert fly fisherman and we have vivid memories of him creating magical arcs with his fly line while standing waste deep in rivers. He also loved to ski and would yearly take entire weeks to ski at Aspen or Steamboat Springs.

John knew how to have a good time. The Strecker’s had many parties. Often at Florence & Klaus Meyers’ house up on the mountain in Turkey Creek, CO. We’d having roaring fires, skating on the lake, a feast of roasted meat, exotic foods (like escargot) and plenty to drink (for the adults of course). John was a devoted husband and deeply invested in his children. He will be missed.

John is survived by wife of 69 years, Ruth Ethel Minor; children Stephen Strecker, Alan (Kathy) Strecker, and Shauna Strecker; grandchildren Griffin Strecker, Stephen Strecker Jr., Ryan Strecker, Jonathan Strecker, Michael Strecker, Kelly Strecker, and Rooks Metz; 2 great grandchildren.

Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Lillian Strecker and 5 older siblings.

A celebration of life for John will be held Friday, March 6, 2020 at 1:30 PM at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CrownHillFuneral.com for the Strecker family.