John K Zweck

John Keller Zweck passed away quietly at his home on February 20, 2024. John spent his days on the Zweck family farm, working hard to protect and provide for the family while spreading his jolly and interesting spirit to anyone he encountered.

John met his wife, Lana Elliott, in 1977, and they lived on the farm together until her passing in 2022.

He graduated from Longmont High School in 1971 and then jumped at the chance to mine for gold in Alaska. He always loved a good adventure, especially if it included heavy machinery and equipment. Upon returning from Alaska, John and his brother Dan started Zweck Excavating, working in the early days of Aspen and the Vail Valley’s development. They then partnered with another contractor and started the local Boulder County company, E-Z Excavating.

In 1995, his father, Russell Zweck passed away. John then stepped into his father’s shoes, farming, raising cattle, and watching over the family’s sesquicentennial farm. He loved his herd of black angus cattle, every inch of the beautiful land he cared for, and of course, the many cats who made their way to the farm and adopted him.

John made quite an impact on the community around him. He never met a stranger twice; anyone who met him knows how much he loved to debate politics and talk farming. His gruff exterior hid a soft and generous heart, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for a friend. John will be deeply missed by his family, friends, community and the farm animals he treated like family and on a happy note, three of his calves have been born this week, Spring is here!

Our beloved John is survived by: his mother, Gayle Zweck; his brother Tom and his wife Connie; his sister Carol Stratton and her husband Dick; and his brother Dan and his wife Monica. His surviving nieces and nephews include: Heidi Newman (Duffy, Taylor, Maggie, Ellie); Krista Zweck (Juan Piceno, Violeta, Jolan); Eve Stratton Shelden (Grace and Bethany); Hannah DeHerrera (Simon, Elijah, Sunshine); Zac Stratton (Cameron); Roy Jacox (Amy); Sydney Parker (Trent, Ryder, Kashlynn); and Ashley Ratliff (Devin, Weston, Paxton).

John Zweck’s Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Hygiene Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall from 1:00-4:00 p.m.