John L. Shupe

The 98+ years life of John L. Shupe will be celebrated Monday, June 24, 2019 at 2:00 pm, Generations Church. A pre-service video will begin at 1:45. A visitation and viewing will be held the night before, Sunday, June 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Adamson Life Celebration Home. John moved to Greeley from Macomb, IL with his family at age eleven. He attended Greeley Central High where he met and married Maxine Cardwell. They were married 68 years before her passing in 2005. John served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Knox, KY and San Antonio, TX in WWII. In the late 1940s John bought and operated his first truck, and in 1951, teamed with his brother, Jack, to own and operate Shupe Brothers Trucking Company. The company’s blue and white trucks became a major contract carrier for Morton Salt Company in Salt Lake City; a major hauler of grain and feed for Farr Better Feeds; a major hauler of bentonite in the Glen Canyon Dam construction. The truck fleet expanded to include offices in Garden City, KS; Guymon, OK; Hereford, TX; Duncan, NE; and Billings, MT. From 1970-76 John developed with Ken Monfort, the Monfort of Colorado Transportation Company, a 100 truck fleet that John operated. The left lane of the interstates became known as the "Monfort Lane”. The new orange and yellow trucks, which were geared to travel at the 70 mph speed limit, could pass most of the trucks traveling the same routes across America. John continued his personal trucking business at 2600 Bypass in east Greeley, under Shupe Bros Trucking, developing into a 100 truck fleet. In 1987 John took over a trucking company, naming it DSCO, Drivers Services Company, a 200 truck fleet hauling products across the country. "Trucks move America!” John’s other business ventures have been in land development in Weld County; a 2,500 acre farm in Yuma County; a 600 acre farm in west Greeley; developer, stockholder and director in area banking institutions; former partner in Greeley Finance Company; and a partner in Weld County Garage. He served on a number of community boards; Chamber of Commerce from 1965-70; a Rotarian since 1964; contributor to Will Rothman Family Chaplaincy Program at NCMC; Women’s Ministry Center of Greeley; United Way; contributed vehicles and equipment to the Independence Stampede; and numerous non-profit organizations. Important in John’s life was his faith. His involvement at Greeley Wesleyan Church (now Generations Church) started with three other families in the little church on 9th Avenue and 24th Street. In 1980-81, he was project manager on the construction of the church’s present location. Following the passing of his wife, Maxine, John met and married Sandra Davis of Dallas, TX. They reside in Greeley, with a home in Scottsdale, AZ, enjoyed extensive travel, and enjoy quality time with Sandra’s daughter Vicky Speed and son Clay Johnson of Dallas, granddaughters Sarah and Shelby. Without a doubt, John’s major interest in life has been his family who will miss his daily face to face presence. His influence and impact on our lives is incomprehensible. Our favorite love. Nora and Kent Kingsbury; Charlie and Lorissa Kingsbury, children Chaynee, Cason, Carty, Creed, Chaylis; Jerry and Jo Stugart (our heart break of Jo’s passing in 2014); John and Jennifer Stugart, son Jackson; Jed and Angie Stugart, children Gunner and Gracie; Joyce and Joel Rothman, Joey Rothman, Willi and Nathan Merrill, children Natalie, Trey and Aalliyah. John’s brothers Jack and Harvey and families. John includes many of his dear close friends as family. You know who you are. To friends and family: John was a generous man. Instead of flowers or gifts, if you have special philanthropic interests, he would want you to help them out. That would show him great honor.