Jon B. Lounsbury

     Jon Bruce Lounsbury was born to Hewitt and Ester (Rogers) Lounsbury on July 16, 1938 in Carson, North Dakota. He and his family homesteaded in Alaska in 1944 and settled in Anchorage. Jon graduated from Anchorage High School in 1956 and went on to receive his B.A. from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington in 1960. He boasted wild tales from the 48 hour drive he made each semester with his buddies (in one shot no less!) to and from home.

     He married Susan Shackleford (of Boulder) in 1964 in San Francisco, and the pair set off their journey together chasing adventures across the globe. They spent the next twelve years in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii raising their daughter Sara Kathryn, operating small retail stores, and soaring down Mauna Kea with the skis Jon had trekked with him to the island. Jon also served on the boards of the Kona YMCA and Chamber of Commerce and served as the president of the Kona Rotary Club.

     Upon moving to Boulder in 1978, Jon developed into an even more avid skier, tennis player, and gardener. He worked in the wholesale construction materials business, specializing in window products. Jon also beautified every home he had by cultivating lush, joy-filled, and fragrant gardens. He served for many years as an usher at Mountain View United Methodist Church and was a member of the Meadows Club.

     While Jon and Susan may be best known for their enjoyment playing bridge with old friends and new, they truly sought to experience the most the world had to offer. Together, they visited over 80 countries and all seven seas, from hiking Machu Picchu in Peru to squeezing through the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam. They delighted in occasionally bringing their daughter and grandchildren along for the ride.

     Jon is remembered for the mischievous twinkle that sparked his blue eyes, the wide smile that easily spread across his face, the pure warmth he emanated in every interaction, and the steadfast love he shared with his family and friends. He showed us all the beauty of accepting the ones that you love just the way they are, and of pursuing the passions you feel in your soul with all the love that you have.

     Jon is predeceased by his identical twin brother Joel Lounsbury and older brother Loren Lounsbury. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Susan, daughter Sara Hughes (Tim), three wonderful grandchildren Jon (Olivia), Aurelia, and Victoria Casarrubias, and several nieces and nephews.

     To honor Jon’s memory, grab some clippers or a digger and pull a weed or three!