H. Gordon Johnson

August 26, 1921 to December 19, 2018

H. Gordon Johnson of Greeley, CO passed away on December 19, 2018, after a short illness at the age of 97.

He was a dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. He resided at

Grace Point Assisted living for 2 years and made many friends there. The staff all loved him. He was born to Harvey and Margaret Johnson on August 26, 1921 in Ft Collins, CO.

Gordon grew up on a farm northwest of town. He graduated from Ft Collins High School in 1939 and then attended Colorado State for 1-year studying mechanical engineering. Gordon then took Civilian Pilot Training Program classes and earned a commercial pilots license with an instructor rating in 1941. He became a flight

instructor in Ft Collins, then at an Army Air Corps basic training school in Brady, Texas. He proposed to

Wanda June Phillips of Greeley and they were married 2 weeks later in a war time marriage and they moved to

Texas. Gordon was offered a direct commission in the Army Air Transport Command in Long Beach, CA

which evolved into an overseas assignment flying the infamous “Hump” from India to China supplying

fuel and supplies to Chiang Chi Check Flying Tigers who were fighting a holding action against the

encroaching communists descending from Northern China. Gordon was honorably discharged from the

Army Air Corp at the end of WWII and returned to Ft Collins to attend Colorado A & M receiving a

Mechanical Engineering degree in 1948. He then joined his family business for a short time, then moved

to Greeley and started a farm equipment and irrigation dealership. That business, Irrigation and Power

Equipment, evolved into manufacturing the Raincat Center Pivot Irrigation System.

In the mid 1970’s, he sold Raincat to the Toro Manufacturing Company. Refusing to retire, Gordon

established Bigfoot Ranches, developing 3 ranches around the Greeley area. After deciding to get out of

the cattle business, he turned the last ranch into a sod farm and called it Bigfoot Turf Farms.

In 1999, Gordon was thrilled when his son Greg moved his family back to the farm to work with him. He

and Wanda joyously welcomed their grandchildren to the area and attended all of their activities. He

loved taking them all to the Greeley Country Club for dinner and especially loved coming out to their

house for all of the holidays. He was happy that his daughter Beth was able to move into his beloved

Rangeview home that he and Wanda built together.

Gordon was a true entrepreneur and enjoyed working. He continued to drive to the farm until he was 94

to pick up the deposit and drive it to the bank. He would drive around the whole farm to check on the

sod condition and make sure all was well.

Gordon shared his passion for flying with many people. He finally gave up his beloved “Baron 651

Tango” just last year. On his 97th birthday, he was treated to a flyover that included a skywriter writing a

huge 97 in the sky above the farm .

Gordon served on the United Bank Board, the Weld County Airport Board, the Aims governing board,

the Colorado State University Alumni Foundation Board, University of Northern Colorado Foundation

Board and the University Schools Accountability Board. Membership in the Greeley Rotary Club was very

important to Gordon. He has been a member since 1973, serving as president in 1979 and 1980 and

serving as it’s District Governor from 1991 to 1992. Gordon and Wanda were able to travel the world

with the Rotary organization and made many lifelong friends. He believed in and lived the motto

“Service above Self”.

Gordon was preceded in death by his wife Wanda Johnson, his mother and father, Margaret and

Harvey G Johnson, his brother Kenneth Johnson and his sister Louise Weitzel.

Gordon is survived by his brother John Lowell “Bud” (Joyce) Johnson of Greeley, his daughter Beth

Atulya Johnson of Greeley, his son Greg and “favorite daughter in-law” Sheree Johnson of rural LaSalle,

and his grandchildren, Stacy Walsh (Derek) of Tempe, AZ, Nicole Peters of Broomfield, CO, Andy Johnson

(Sara) and Tyler Davidson (Megan) both of rural LaSalle. He is also survived by 2 great grandchildren,

Parker and Brenna Walsh of Tempe AZ and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Cornerstone Community Church 1321 9th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631 at

11AM Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Please stay for a reception in the Celebration Center in the church

immediately after the service. A celebration of life party will be held at Bigfoot Turf Farm in the spring.

The date will be announced and will depend on flying weather conditions.

Gordon loved the Rotary Club of Greeley. Donations in his memory may be made to Rotary Club of Greeley in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, Co 80631. Please visit www.allnuttgreeley.com to send condolences to the family.