John Joe Ortega

John Joe "'Johnnie” Ortega, 85, of Greeley, CO, went to heaven on Saturday, January 5, 2013. He was born in Eaton, CO on October 17, 1927 to the late Faustino and Angelita Ortega. Johnnie attended school until the 7th grade when his father needed his help on the farms around Greeley. He later attended Bible College in Waxahachie, Texas and also in Los Angeles, California. He made business opportunities happen as an entrepreneur. He married the late Wauneta Garcia in 1945. Johnnie served in the US Army from 1946 to 1947 as a Tec/5 where he received the World War II victory medal for his service in the Pacific theater and was honorably discharged. Johnnie was self taught in so many areas and in the early 70's he opened up his own shop in Greeley, known as Johnnies Paint and Body Shop, where he did semi truck and equipment and body repair for many years. He worked all of his life from childhood until the day of his death. He will be missed but not forgotten as a caring and giving brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather to his family. Johnnie attended Northern Colorado Cowboy Church in Lucerne, Colorado. Johnnie is survived by seven children, Rosemary Weaver (Melvin) of Elizabethtown, PA, Gabriel Ortega (Theresa),of Arboga, CA, Daniel Ortega (Geneva), of Castle Rock, CO, Eloise Gwinn (Richard), of Escabar, Paraguay; David Ortega, Diane Ortega, and John Ortega, Jr. (Mary) all of Greeley. He also is survived by eighteen grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Pete Ortega (Benita) and David Ortega (Angie), of Greeley; and sister, Rachel Rangel (Carmen) of Ft Collins, CO and Marybelle Ferguson (Bill) of Loganville, GA. He is preceded in death by: Lucia La Crüe, Lloyd Ortega (Marie), Cresencio Ortega, "Ben” (Linda), Lucy Salinas (Alex), Juanita Eaton, "Jenny” (David), Rosalie, Dolores, Andres, Faustino, and Rebecca. A memorial fund will be set up in his honor for the "Gwinn's mission work” in Paraguay. Contributions can be made out to Victory Christian Fellowship noted for Gwinn's mission work in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634. Services include; viewing at 3 – 6 p.m. Sunday January 13, 2013 at Adamson Chapel, viewing 9-10 a.m. Monday, January 14, 2013 at Northern Colorado Cowboy Church, 33131 US Hwy 85 Lucerne, CO followed by funeral service at 10 a.m. and interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens.