Willis Daniel Guptill was born in Ava, Missouri on August 15, 1927 to Harrison Guptill and Florence Guptill (Gregg) and passed away on October 2, 2020 at Hopewest Hospice, Grand Junction, Colorado after a brief illness. Willis is survived by his wife Ida Mae of 73 years.
He spent his childhood in Fruit Colorado as well as Palisade Colorado. He graduated from Appleton High School which closed in 1954.
As an adult Willis also resided in Craig Colorado and Steamboat Springs, Colorado before moving to Grand Junction Colorado where he and Ida have lived for 37 years.
Willis served in World War II in the United States Navy as an Electrician on the Astoria Cruiser in the Pacific. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, United Mine Workers, a member of Moose Lodge and the VFW.
He had interest in gold mining, was an inventor, builder, enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping and was an avid story teller.
Willis was preceded in death by his son Daniel Lee Guptill and daughter Nancy Mae Henderson and is survived by his wife Ida Mae, daughters Judy Kay Funk and Wilma Jo Johnson, 7 grand children, 15 great-great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hopewest Hospice at https://www.hopewestco.org/donate/
