John D Eidson, Jr

John D. Eidson Jr.

August 2, 1950 – February 22, 2025

Big John, Mr. Tall, JD, Big Guy… these were some of the nicknames given to John D. Eidson Jr. He was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Havertown, PA. John was the oldest son of John & Gloria (nee Cascarino) Eidson. He attended Presentation Grade School and then Monsignor Bonner High School in Upper Darby, PA, graduating in 1968. John then attended the University of Scranton for a year before enlisting in the Army in 1969.  

He served active duty - including a tour in Germany - from 1969 - 1973. His tour to Germany broadened his view of the world and led him to meet his first wife, Lisa. John and Lisa were married in May of 1972. They moved to Saint Cloud, MN, where Lisa worked at Brown, Boveri & Company and John worked various jobs including owning a Union 76 service station. After settling in St. Augusta, MN, they adopted their infant son, Dominic John Eidson in 1977.

In 1973 John ended his active duty, but continued his military commitment in the Army Reserve, ultimately retiring with the rank of Sgt 1st Class after nearly three decades of service. He was honorably discharged in 2002. His military career took him down the path of teaching and leading, in which he studiously planned many trainings concerning warfare and weaponry. During this time, he was deployed to Germany in preparation for Operation Desert Storm, was part of training missions to Panama, and engaged in arctic warfare training in Alaska.  He was passionate about our Country and was proud to be part of the United States Army.

John attended St. Cloud State University from 1980 to 1983, earning a Bachelor of Elective Studies. His love for all things automotive drove him to a long career in automotive education. After moving to Denver, Colorado, he taught at Denver Automotive and Diesel College and later worked as a fleet mechanic trainer for Greyhound. His teaching journey continued with positions at Warren Tech, Boulder Technical Education Center, and finally at Lincoln Tech, where he dedicated himself until retirement. During this time, he was also briefly married to Pam Jensen. It has been calculated that he helped more than eight thousand students in his teaching career, which he enjoyed so very much.

John will be remembered as a loyal friend, passionate Soldier, dedicated teacher, loving father, and mentor to so many. He was a man who had a Larger-Than-Life personality; but also, a tender side that would occasionally seep through his upright military exterior. He was a unique and giving soul who lived a full life and left a very big footprint.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria, his father, John, his stepfather, Frank Rouix, his older stepbrother Mal Rouix and younger brother Wayne Eidson. John is survived by his son, Dominic and daughter-in-law, Kathleen. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who knew him.

Funeral Service will be at 12pm on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at Denver Church of Christ, 6925 Carr St, Arvada, CO 80004. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Denver Children’s Home, denverchildrenshome.org. 

A private interment with full military honors will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at a later date.