John Ronald Stute

He was born on the family farm northwest of Benkelman Nebraska on February 27, 1935 to Frank and Hazel (Trout) Stute, the fourth of five siblings. He attended school at Hoover School a few miles from the farm until finishing 8th grade at which time he went to work full time farming with his dad and brothers.

While on an ice cream run in 1953 he and his good friend met the loves of their lives at a Dairy King in Wray Colorado. John married Leona Wiltfang on May 27, 1955 and Leona's family became his family. They moved to a small house on the farm. In December 1959 he announced they were moving to Denver - not for a visit but for a new start. That move began his journey through the ranks to become a pipe line contractor. In 1963 his wife, now four daughters, moved to Fort Collins where they began their own company, Stute Excavating which evolved into Stute Construction Company Inc. which became Colorado's most prestigious boring and tunneling contractor.

John lived life to the fullest, enjoying most of all his large family, a good dance, lots of hugs and travel, especially road trips, cruising and being near the water. John and Leona owned Broncos since 1976 and enjoyed sharing them with friends and family. His support of the Larimer County Partners program led to lifelong friends. They retired in 2004 and needing some open space, moved to Weld Country making new friends along the way. Next door neighbors and the Eaton Christian Fellowship became especially important as well as all the visits from family. John particularly enjoyed his relationship and support from his nephew and his entire family as well as John’s sister in law and brother in law. When he retired, John was able to indulge in his hobby of searching for gold. He built his own lab and used self-taught skills and processes to fire the gold in his kiln.

Surviving are his wife Leona of 68 years and three daughters, Rebecca Peralta Jivan, Regina Ludwig Whitney, and Relissa Stute. Their oldest daughter Rhonda Stute preceded him in death in 2017. John had six grandchildren, Sarah Ludwig, Joseph Peralta who passed away in 2022, Nick Peralta, Annie Cheatham, Sam Whitney, and Madison Stute. Great grandchildren are Lyanna Cheatham and John Cheatham who passed away in 2022. Also preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, two sisters, two half brothers and his half sister.

A visitation for John will be held Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Allnutt Funeral Service – Drake Road Chapel, 650 W. Drake Rd., Ft. Collins, Colorado 80526. A funeral service will occur Monday, November 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 650 W. Drake Rd., Ft. Collins, Colorado 80526. The burial will occur Monday, November 27, 2023 at 12:30 PM at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 8426 US-287, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525.

Serving as pallbearers are Nick Peralta, Sam Whitney , Alex Cheatham, Joe Cruz, Richard Morrison and Seth Neeley.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.allnuttftcollins.com for the Stute family.