Hiram John Lyke

Denver, Colorado — Hiram John Lyke, “John”, age 93, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026 in Denver. Born on September 20, 1932 in Oconomowoc, WI, John was the beloved father of Christopher, Jennifer, and Julia Lyke, and grandfather of Owen and Maxwell Lyke and Jackson and Thomas Blanchard.

John was raised, the youngest of three boys, in Oconomowoc by his parents Hiram Arthur (“Buzz”) and Jean Lyke. Along with his mother on piano, his oldest brother Douglas on trombone, and middle brother Richard (“Ned”) on trumpet, he began playing Dixieland drums at an early age, a passion he retained for life.

As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin Madison, John met his wife-to-be Judith Ann Heigho. Following his graduation and their marriage he served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in South Korea from 1955 to 1957. He earned a Master’s degree in Psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1959 and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan in 1963.

John first worked as a clinical psychologist at Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut. Soon, however, the young family moved to Colorado, where John worked initially on the staff of the Jefferson County Mental Health Center in Lakewood and later as a consultant for the Colorado Christian Home in Denver. He then began a private practice and taught as a Professor of Psychology for many years at Metropolitan State University in Denver, where he specialized in courses such as Personality and Psychopathology.

Besides Dixieland music, John played tennis and enjoyed the outdoors, especially skiing and fly fishing, and was a fervent Denver Broncos fan. He brought his psychological training to all his endeavors, including the game he invented, “Gone Bananas”, and the several books he authored.

John is survived by the mother of his children, his divorced wife Judith, along with all his children and grandchildren. His long-time partner, Rita Hertzfeld, predeceased him in 2024.

A memorial service will be held in the Denver area along with a second service in Oconomowoc, WI, where it was John’s wish to be interred in his family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Denver’s Urban Peak in John’s memory.

John will be remembered for his humor, compassion, dedication, and the lasting impact he had on everyone he met. He will be greatly missed.