Virgil Loren Johnson of Loveland, CO (formerly Stoneham, CO) died Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

Join the family for his Memorial Service and Celebration of Life at the First Baptist Church, 915 S. 8 ^th Ave. in Sterling, CO, Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m.  The service will be followed by burial ceremony at Prairie View Cemetery west of Stoneham on Highway 14.  After the ceremony, lunch will be served and memories exchanged at the Stoneham Community Building, 41625 Marble Ave.

He was the youngest of three boys born in Sterling, CO on August 16, 1928 to Earl and Lula Johnson.  Virgil and his brothers Darrel and Lester (Mike) grew up 14 miles north of Stoneham on the ranch his mother's father, George F. Conn of Davenport, NE, homesteaded in 1910.  The family raised Hereford cattle and registered Quarter Horses.

Virgil graduated from Stoneham High School in 1946.  He participated in a variety of sports teams, but his real claim to fame was playing drums for Stoneham's very own jazz band, "The Jive 'n' Five."  The group traveled to various parties and dances in northeastern Colorado in the 1940s. The "Jive 'n' Five" was occasionally called upon in later years to reunite and play for Stoneham Alumni Dances.

Virgil was drafted into the United States Army in 1950.  After basic training and eight weeks of advance infantry training, he was sent to Korea in June, 1951, where he served eight months in combat.  He left Korea in 1952.  His final discharge from Fort Carson, CO was in 1957.

Virgil met his wife, Virginia Ruth, at a dance in New Raymer.  They were married in 1956.  The first years of their marriage were spent in Sterling, where Virgil worked in construction.  His work included renovations to some of Sterling's most important commercial buildings, including some in downtown Sterling's historic district.  Later, he joined the State of Colorado as a Port of Entry officer where he served for 28 years.

Virgil and Virginia raised their two children, Julie and Loren (Skip) Johnson on the family ranch where he taught the importance of responsible land management and animal husbandry, as well as service to family and community.  Virgil competed in calf roping competitions in rodeos including the Stoneham Rodeo, Northeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo, and Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Although Virgil moved to Loveland after retirement, he stayed in close touch with friends in Stoneham and New Raymer.  He enjoyed services at the Chapel of the Plains and tried not to miss the Northeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo in New Raymer or the Greeley Independence Stampede Fourth of July Rodeo.  He loved long conversations with friends almost as much as he loved a good rodeo!

Virgil is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lula Johnson and brothers Robert Darrel and Lester (Mike) Johnson.  He is survived by his daughter Julie Johnson of Denver, CO; son Loren "Skip" and daughter-in-law Heidi Johnson of Loveland, CO; and granddaughters Rachael (Kevin) Anstett of Fort Collins, CO, Taylor Johnson of Wichita, KS, and Paige Johnson of Seattle, WA.  His family will miss his funny stories, 'dad' jokes and birthday cards signed by "Ole' Dad."

Donations in his honor can be made to the High Plains Honor Flight, P.O. Box 363 Ault, CO 80610 or www.highplainshonorflight.org/donate or the Stoneham Historical Society, P.O. Box 115, Stoneham, CO 80754.