John D. Fenniman

john fenniman

December 16, 1943 ~ July 11, 2023

Born in: Hartford, CT
Resided in: Lakewood, CO

John D. Fenniman passed away July 11, 2023, in Denver, CO after a four year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born in Hartford, Conn. December 16, 1943 and grew up in West Hartford, Conn. He graduated from Dartmouth College and received his master’s degree in cartography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  He served in the US Army from 1965-1968 and was a Vietnam veteran. He married Susan Landers in 1969.

Always passionate about mountain climbing and the outdoors, he was a member of the Appalachian Mountain club, hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania hills. After he and Sue married and graduated from UW, they lived in Lancaster, PA where John worked as a cartographer for Rand McNally. They moved to Lakewood, CO in 1974 where they raised two daughters and John worked as a cartographer for the Denver branch of the U.S. Geological Survey until his retirement in 2014. They were former members of Phillips United Methodist Church.

Most will remember John for his love of people, nature and Colorado mountain trails, history, classical music and opera. They may also remember his ritual weekly letters to family and friends, back rubs and his chocolate chip cookies. He will be remembered as a devout dog lover, known to take their beloved golden retrievers on four walks a day in the park across the street from the family home and neighborhood. All of us will remember him for his nurturing way, his love of family and friends, his love of a good story, and his understated community spirit.

John is survived by his wife, Sue, their daughters Jennifer (Ryan Plank) and Heather (Justus Gries), his brother Bill Fenniman (Carol), sisters-in-law Joan Landers and Rena Blakeslee, a host of nieces and nephews, and their children. He is predeceased by his parents William and Elisabeth Fenniman and his sister Elisabeth (Tibby) Tobey.  The family is appreciative of the caring support of caregivers from Seniors Helping Seniors and Highline Assisted Care, and Lumicare Hospice.

A celebration of John’s life will be held July 20, 2024 in Golden, CO at The Golden Hotel, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 800 11th St. Those planning to attend should email Sue at suefenn@q.com so she can send you an evite so you can confirm by 7/7 /24. A light lunch will be served.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s memory to the Appalachian Mountain Club, New Hampshire Chapter, www.outdoors.org; The Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org; The Central City Opera, www.centralcityopera.org; the New York Metropolitan Opera, www.metopera.org or a charity of your choice.

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Photo Gallery

Guestbook


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle