H. C. Mosbarger

Herbert Calvin “Joke” Mosbarger passed away peacefully January 31, 2015 at Wheat Ridge Manor Rehab. Joke, 6th of 7 children of Roy and Eva Mosbarger, was born October 4th, 1927 by the South Bijou near Byers, Colorado. He is survived by his second wife, Dora (Wormuth) Mosbarger; 5 children - Sheryl Mosbarger, Cathy Lee, Diana Sawyer, Roger Mosbarger, and Marcia Pryor; 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. All were very dear to him. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Amber (Grimm) Mosbarger and 6 siblings - Clyde (LeRoy), Catherine, Ella, Laura (Dolly), Everett (Runt) and Russell (Hap).

Like the children from most farming families, he learned to work hard at an early age. His stories of those days were filled with farming and milking cows. Joke attended a 1 room school house outside of Byers. Once the family moved to a farm in Aurora, he attended William Smith High School (which became Aurora High School).

In 1949 Joke married Amber Grimm. During those first years of marriage Joke was one of the founding volunteer firemen of the Cunningham Fire Department. Soon he was drafted into the army where he was a vet tech. Joke and Amber raised their 5 children in Englewood, Colorado where he supported the family by working as a roofer and taking on second jobs when necessary. 41 years of roofing certainly took a toll on his body.

Joke married Dora Wormuth in 1990 and eventually moved to Dew, Texas. There he went back to his comfort zone, being a farmer.

He moved back to Colorado in 2006 to be around his children and grandchildren. Most recently he lived at the assisted living center, The Retreat at Highlands. Once he moved into the Retreat we saw such a big change in his attitude. He was back to his ornery, joking self and seemed happier than we had seen him in years. He fit in well at the Retreat and made many friends.

When asked what he wanted people to remember about him he said, “I love my family and I am a sports nut.” We remember him as a hardworking, genuine man who was never without his chew.

He will be missed by many and remembered fondly.

Donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation.