R. J. grew up in Protection, Kansas which is south of Dodge City. He played football and track at Protection High School.
He earned a degree in business at Emporia State College in Kansas. During his college years he had several great cars and an Indian motorcycle.
He married Maggie Bahr in Great Bend, Kansas on February 6, 1965. They raised two kids, Dee Ann (Walker) Sundström and Tom J. Walker, who currently both live in the Denver area. The family moved from Great Bend to Greeley, Colorado in 1968. He was an assistant manager at the Everett Lumber Company for 28 years both in Great Bend and in Greeley. Later he moved to Growling Bear Construction company and the University of Northern Colorado. He also volunteered for RSVP building wheel chair ramps.
He loved to gather wood for the family fireplace. This included trips to the mountains to cut trees and to the Greeley Tribune to get shipping pallets. He also loved his 1988 red Chevy Corvette and his 1976 orange Chevy stepside Pickup truck.
He loved sports and watched every game for the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets and Avalanche. He also supported his kids in sports and coached soccer a few years for a team named the Choctaws.
He spent his final six months at Bonell Good Samaritan Aspen wing with great support and help as he battled Multiple Myeloma cancer. Maggie was at his side daily to support and comfort him.
We want to thank everyone at Bonell Good Samaritan Center and Hospice of Northern Colorado for their support and in lieu of flowers, we ask that you give your contribution to these two organizations.
R.J. is survived by his wife, Maggie, his two children Dee and Tom, their spouses, Jennifer and Yogi, and four grandchildren, Dalton, Joel, Gusten and Isabella. Also his only sibling, Jeannine Phelps, lives in Greeley with her husband Cecil.
Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 9, 2014 at Stoddard Funeral Home.
Please visit www.stoddardsunset.com to sign online guestbook.
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