Johnnie Laucus

Johnnie Laucus, 73, passed away on Friday, June 17 2011 at his La Junta home. Johnnie was born on July 16, 1937 in Hartshorne, Oklahoma to Ben & Anna (Salus) Laucus. 
Johnnie served in the United States Army in Company B, 2nd Airborne Battle, 187 Infantry. After his years in the United States Army, he moved to Denver where he was a firefighter and also worked in a number of other organizations.
Johnnie relocated to La Junta in August of 1969 to become a vocational educator at the Otero Junior College. He continued his personal education and acquired his BA in Education from Colorado States University. He also started a number of small businesses in La Junta related to the automotive industry and ended up developing a business with international sales. He enjoyed outdoor activities that Colorado provided and in his later years became an avid golfer. He enjoyed the sport so much that he worked various ways to give back to the sport that gave him enjoyment including promoting the sport to youth, participating on boards that influenced the sport and starting a business related to the sport.  
Johnnie is survived by his wife Beverly; children Shawn (Steve) Geist, Jamie (BJ) Roberts, and Mark Laucus; mother of his children Donna Laucus; step-children Vicki Powell, Dale (Julie) Atkinson, and Monty (Beverly) Atkinson; grandchildren Jay Geist, Tracy Geist, Andrew Roberts, Danielle Roberts, Cameron (Tracey) Salzbrenner, Chelsea Powell, Chase Atkinson, Ryder Atkinson, and Tayten Atkinson; special niece Bennie Joyce (Richard) Edmonds; sister Lenora Southern; numerous great-nieces and nephews also survive.   
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Charlie, Joe, and Paul Laucus; and his sister Anne Hall.
A Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., at the Rocky Ford Golf Course. Activities including Golf and conversation will begin soon after a short remembrance by the family. To obtain additional information about the golfing event please contact Mark at (719) 659-6834.   

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through the funeral home.