John Andrew Reed

John Andrew Reed,79, of Sundance, Wyoming, beloved husband and sweet Johnny Angel, Dad and Grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, plumber, electrician, mechanic, gardener, babysitter, sage advisor, taste-tester extraordinaire, Kenworth/Ford Mustang/Harley/John Deere Tractor driver and 4-wheeler/ e-bicycle rider, passed away suddenly Sunday evening, January 14, while Camp Hosting for the winter at the Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs. He was just short of his 80th birthday and 60th wedding anniversary.

John was born on March 3, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, to Dale and Marie ("Pat") Reed. The family moved west to Aurora, South Dakota then to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, where he met and married his Angel, Marie, on March 7, 1964. 

Like his father before him, John was a proud over-the-road semi-truck driver for much of his life, beginning at about the age of 16 (or maybe 14, since licenses weren't required at that time!). He started out driving for his father then independently for several years under the handle "Moonlighter", eventually expanding to create Reed Trucking out of White, South Dakota, until the family moved to Gillette, Wyoming, to work at the new coal mines and raise his family.

In Gillette, John worked at Cordero Mine as a mechanic for six years before buying into Campbell County Meat Lockers as a partner. He eventually bought the business entirely and ran it with Marie and his sons for several years before he sold it and went back to trucking. 

John and Marie then moved to Sundance in 1994. John drove for East-West Motor Express, soon buying another truck and becoming an owner-operator for another 17 years or so. After "retiring" from East-West, he drove for another several years with Mike Pixley and his son Jay in Sundance, Wyoming.

His family is unsure of the number of semi-trucks John drove or owned over the course of these many years, and while John earned the coveted "Million Mile" award, we are quite sure he clocked well over that. John was proud to have visited all 48 continental US states, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. 

John also embodied quite the entrepreneurial spirit, venturing into what his family very affectionately called his "schemes", including encyclopedia sales, water softeners, the "radar eliminators" that we don't think we're supposed to talk about and most recently, John was setting up his "office" to add solar panels to trailers for RV'ers like himself and Marie.

John and Marie began RV traveling sometime around 2017 and visited many places around the country, particularly in warmer areas. The two lovebirds were able to travel and create wonderful memories in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, New Orleans, spending time with John's cousin Lee, seeing his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and family, and making many, many new friends along the way.

Beginning in winter of 2020, John and Marie have been welcomed as "Camp Hosts" at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs during the winter months, and considered it as a second home and another family.

In recent years, John and Marie split their time in Colorado Springs and Sundance. While in Sundance, John enjoyed waking up the John Deere to drive in fair parades, down to coffee and giving his great-grandkids rides. He was especially proud of Marie's '67 Mustang and they enjoyed their time at various car shows. Lastly, John loved his Harley and had so much fun riding over to Devils Tower for ice cream and to the Sturgis Rally with Marie on the back.

John was married to his lifelong love and Angel, Marie, for nearly 60 years. John and Marie welcomed five children: sons Dale, Duewain and Daron, and daughters Darla and Debra; grandchildren: Bobbi, Shawn, Misty, Johnathon, Cristal (by Dale); Marc, Kara, Jordan (by Darla); Allaynah, Adrian (by Debra); and 15 great-grandchildren. One of John's greatest pleasures was spending time and making memories with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John is survived by his loving wife; son Dale; daughters Darla and Debra (Joe); sister Donna; his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children and many friends.

The family takes great comfort in knowing wholeheartedly that he is in joyful reunion in Heaven with his Savior and the many loved ones that greeted him on the other side. John was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; two sisters, Candi and Cherie; sister-in-law Joan; two sons, Duewain and Daron and two grandsons Johnathon and Shawn; and many dear cousins-like-siblings, friends and too many others to list. But Heaven is rowdy right now. 

John's sunny, cheerful, can-do disposition will be greatly missed. In memory of John, please partake in a glass of red wine from the box, a few Jelly Bellys, some Cracker Jacks and a midnight Oreo snack with milk.

Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m., Friday, January 26, 2024 at the Sundance United Methodist Church in Sundance. Burial will take place at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, Wyoming.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com