John Charles Englebert

John entered the Army shortly after graduating from high school in Green Bay. After his military stint; where he received several medals in Marksmanship, he worked in Colorado Springs as a machinist while attending CSU in Pueblo. He later moved to Fort Collins to work with the State Forest Service and to finish his college career; earning a double major in wildlife biology and forestry. John had hoped to become a game warden; but that was not his calling.

After graduating from CSU, he went to work for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department in Fort Collins as Captain of the Search and Rescue Team. John thrived in the position becoming an advocate for the Hug a Tree and Whistle programs, aids in helping to find lost children; which John found the most rewarding aspect of his career. As part of the Search and Rescue team; John oversaw numerous wild land fires in conjunction with the State and Federal Forest Service, as well as, searches for lost airplanes, lost and injured children, snowmobilers, rafters, mushroom pickers and hikers. One mushroom picker told John, after he and his team found her, that she didn't need a map because she knew if she got lost, he would find her!

He was extremely proud of the men and women who made up the Larimer County Search and Rescue Team, relying on them not to stop until the lost child was found or the last ember was distinguished. Of all the searches, fires or rescues that John oversaw; the Big Thompson Flood in 1976 was the largest..

When John left the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, he started a new career with the US Forest Service, Red Feather Lakes District, where his skills as a firefighter and his geographic knowledge of the Red Feather Lakes District were relied upon many times. He ended his career with the Forest Service as a Range Manger working with the area ranchers; making sure the cattle allotments were not over or under grazed. He was very involved with range vegetation. Throughout his career, he was able to save many acres of delicate grassland due to his continuous efforts. John’s knowledge and experience with wild land fires took him to over 500 fires from Colorado to California during his career.

John was always an avid hunter; both for big game and birds, as well as an avid fisherman. His enthusiasm for hunting and fishing began in Wisconsin where his brothers and cousins spent more time in the woods or on the water than in their homes. He missed several days of school each year due the opening day for either the fishing or hunting seasons. John won several shooting competitions even before entering the service.

If John couldn't be hunting or fishing, talking about it brought him almost as much pleasure, as did the topic of weather. If you wanted to strike up a conversation or just wanted to hear a story, all you had to do was to bring up either topic and he was off and running!

John is survived by his three sons, three grandchildren, his two brothers and their families.

John will be laid to rest in Wisconsin where his life began and his love of the out-of-doors bloomed. He often said, the years he spent in Wisconsin were the best years of his life.

A gathering of family and friends will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2013 from 1:30-4:00 pm at the Senior Citizen Center in Fort Collins, Colorado to reminisce and honor John's life. Please join us for a story or two.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 650 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526.