Obituary of John Thomas

Obituary John Thomas died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife and sons on January 18, 2022. Adventure and curiosity kept him young, but an aggressive cancer cut his life short at 67 years. John grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, one of seven boys, his welcoming family and fun-loving friends formed his gregarious nature early in life. His love of the outdoors led him to Colorado after high school. The Roaring Fork Valley, then Boulder served as his home base for explorations all over the world. To paraphrase Joni Mitchell, he “traveled the breadths of extremities, then, stuck to the straighter line”, graduating from Colorado Mountain College in 1983, marrying Laurie in 1984 and soon after, having two boisterous sons. John was a custom home builder in Boulder County for many years. He immersed himself in the design, construction and meticulous detail of each home he built. At the same time, he seized every opportunity to travel between projects. Almost every year after a home’s completion, he and his tight-knit family embarked on extended international trips and wilderness adventures, forming rich lasting memories. John and Laurie were nearly inseparable raising their children, working, and playing together. They enjoyed skiing, golfing, biking, rafting, traveling, and backpacking, including a through-hike of the 485 mile Colorado Trail in 2012. John was a visionary, a man of genuine substance, soft-spoken and never daunted by challenges. His passion for helping others leaves an indelible impression. He continues to enrich our lives with “things that we dreamed not before: yea, in spite of a dreamer who slumbers, and a singer who sings no more” ( O’Shaughnessy). John was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Bob and Mark (Amornrat). He leaves behind his devoted wife, Laurie; treasured sons, Sean (Sophie) and Dylan (Annette); three joy-inducing grandchildren, Eve, Avery and Charles; his steadfast brothers, Ben (Betty), Jim (Karen), David, and Peter (Bekeeta); and dear nieces and nephews. If you would like to make a contribution in John’s honor, please consider Pathways Hospice 305 Carpenter Road; Fort Collins, CO 80525 https://pathways-care.org/ways-to-give/. A private memorial service will be held on a river flowing from his beloved Colorado mountains. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of John Thomas