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John Charles Roper

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John Charles Roper

Birth	:	7 Nov 1923 Gunnison, Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
Death	:	25 Jul 2015 Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Burial	:	Crown Point Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.1425018, -108.6175003
Plot	:	Lot 189 Grave 3
Description	:	John Charles Roper was born to Gunnison pioneer parents Albert and Mable Roper in Gunnison, Colorado November 7th, 1923. He grew up on ranches in the Gunnison area, initially on the Taylor River north of Gunnison, then later on the "home place" in the Gunnison River valley between Almont and Gunnison. He was the sixth child of 11 siblings, 9 girls and 2 boys. Growing up as a farm boy during the depression meant learning to get a lot of work done with not much in the way of resources. An aging father and a big family of mostly girls... Read More	John Charles Roper was born to Gunnison pioneer parents Albert and Mable Roper in Gunnison, Colorado November 7th, 1923. He grew up on ranches in the Gunnison area, initially on the Taylor River north of Gunnison, then later on the "home place" in the Gunnison River valley between Almont and Gunnison. He was the sixth child of 11 siblings, 9 girls and 2 boys. Growing up as a farm boy during the depression meant learning to get a lot of work done with not much in the way of resources. An aging father and a big family of mostly girls led to big responsibilities at an early age. One result was the completion of only an eighth grade education before dropping out of school to work the ranch full time. When WWII broke out, he was deferred from the draft in order to support his family. Very near the end of the war, John married Dorothy Walker—in June of 1945. They lived temporarily on the nearby Martin place while continuing to run the ranch. When John's brother, Bob, returned to the ranch after his war service ended, John was freed up to leave home to continue his education at the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. Shortly after returning from the year-long Chicago sojourn, firstborn son Ray was born. About 18 months later, the family moved to Cedar City Utah, joining one of John's sisters and her husband who lived in the area and spoke highly of it. Two additional children, David and Kent, were born while the family lived in the Cedar City area. Colorado beckoned, however, and in 1953 the family returned to the Grand Junction area, first living on a one acre spread near G and 25 Roads, then later moving to the current 23 Road farm. The last child, and only girl, Nancy was born while the family lived at the G Road home. John wanted to be a farmer but needed to support a family as well, and worked both at farming and as an electrician for a series of different electrical contractors in the Western Colorado area. Those included the early Atomic Energy Commission in Grand Junction and later, construction work on the Blue Mesa Dam in the Gunnison area. During that latter work, Dorothy took the opportunity to complete her teaching degree at the then Western State College in Gunnison, and the family moved back to the Walker home place in Gunnison for a year and a half to facilitate that end. While working his full time electrician jobs, John worked a second, full time job on the farm on 23 Road, accomplishing endless hours of irrigating, planting, harvesting of corn and hay, and also raising beef and dairy cattle. In addition, there was the usual extra farm stuff—butchering chickens, milking cows, churning butter, hauling hay, repairing equipment, (usually the baler), gardening, hunting prairie dogs, and so forth. Just so he didn't get to feeling too lazy, John also supported his children by attending many school and sports activities. As a result of a friendship forged in Cedar City with men he worked with, John became interested in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Twenty years later, in 1970, he and Dorothy joined the church, and he subsequently served in many different callings, including 2nd counselor in the bishopric of the Fruita 1st Ward. He and Dorothy served as senior missionaries in Mississippi in 1989 and 1990.They also worked on the Regional Public Affairs council for the church, and that work included several trips to the Salt Lake City genealogy library, and several years of organizing and putting on a Grand Valley Family History Fair. His farm background and the necessities of keeping a farming operation running provided endless experience in repairing machinery of every type and description; skills that served him well over the years. A son remembers helping him acquire a big old hammer mill that he had purchased used that needed major repair work, not to mention the set up necessary to pump silage over the top into a fifty foot silo. Just getting that monster off its trailer nearly killed the both of them when it slipped while being unloaded. John hurt his back in that operation, probably in an effort to prevent said son from getting squashed. John was always a great adventurer and explorer at heart. Motorcycle trips, mountain exploration, horseback rides, bicycle rides, hiking expeditions, boating trips and camp outs were a big part of his life from the earliest days. Interspersed with all that fun and adventure was a lot of back pain, and at least 2 surgeries, not to mention a severely broken leg suffered while riding horses with his daughter, and another broken leg while riding his motorcycle. During those many trips into the wilderness throughout his life, John learned, and then taught, a pretty good lesson in back country and mountain hiking, not to mention life itself: when you want to get somewhere worthwhile carrying a heavy load, the way you do it is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. He put that lesson to good use in his last years, hiking his first 14er when he was 79, going on a several mile family bike ride on his 90th birthday, and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. John's last few days were spent with doting family members, by his side 24 hours a day till it was time to say good-bye on July 25th, 2015. Contributor: Rusty Simmons (50553113) AMONG SURVIVORS: Wife Dorothy L. Roper, three sons John "Ray", David, Kent, daughter Nancy Louise Hymas, sister Anna Mae Wall, 13 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Charles Roper's memorial?
John Charles Roper's memorial is located at: Crown Point Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA.
When did John Charles Roper death?
John Charles Roper death on 25 Jul 2015 in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Charles Roper's memorial?
Latitude: 39.1425018
Longitude: -108.6175003

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Dorothy Lois Walker Roper

(1926 - 2021)

Siblings

Ola Marie Roper Bartlett

(1917 - 2005)

Carol Frances Roper Mykytiuk

(1929 - 2003)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Crown Point Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1425018, -108.6175003

2. Final Paws Pet Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1205000, -108.6240000

3. Immaculate Heart of Mary Columbarium
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Coordinate: 39.1195000, -108.5600000

4. Saint Matthews Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
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Coordinate: 39.1021440, -108.5422860

5. Ross Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.0695660, -108.5637030

6. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Fruita, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1721992, -108.7292023

7. Elmwood Cemetery
Fruita, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1739006, -108.7339020

8. Municipal Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0477028, -108.5673676

9. Teller Indian School Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0631400, -108.5316130

10. Fair View Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0465000, -108.5660000

11. Ohr Shalom Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0460000, -108.5665000

12. Veterans Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0444946, -108.5690918

13. Saint Anthony Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0454000, -108.5660000

14. Calvary Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0456009, -108.5653000

15. IOOF Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0447500, -108.5679500

16. Masonic Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0442276, -108.5670471

17. Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0631447, -108.5261002

18. Orchard Mesa Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0426500, -108.5664000

19. Potters Field
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0413284, -108.5700989

20. Memorial Gardens
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0790329, -108.5022278

21. Little Park Cemetery
Grand Junction, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9863500, -108.6604500

22. Glade Park Cemetery
Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0074997, -108.7382965

23. Palisade Cemetery
Palisade, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0999000, -108.3980000

24. Whitewater Cemetery
Whitewater, Mesa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9818993, -108.4357986