Justen W. Holmes

Justen W. Holmes, born May 27, 1981, a joyous day. Passed July 1, 2018, a blessing on that day. Justen graduated from Chatfield High School in 2000, Fort Lewis College in 2005 and was a current student at Great Friends College.

Justen Holmes was the most wonderful, sweetest soul. He told his mom, the greatest thing in life is making people laugh and that it was the best feeling ever. It warmed his heart and he was exeptional at doing that. He had a way of making everyone feel special although he never thought that of himself. His greatest desire in life was to be a dad and to give a grandchild to his mom. Sadley, that was not to be.

He had a generous, selfless nature and always had a tender heart for others less fortunate. He used to carry a case of water around in his car to give to the homeless people on the street. He said he never gave them money because he didn't want them to use it for alcohol or drugs, since he himself battled an alcohol addiction. One single mother he worked with had a daughter who wanted to play basketball, but they could not afford the fee. So Justen gave them money for that and also bought a basket ball for the girl so she could practice whenever she wanted.

He was a fearless boy growing up, which caused his mom a great deal of worry at times. When he was just a little guy, he used to ride his big wheel down the sloped driveway and at the last second would veer onto the side walk instead of the street. When his mom told him not to do that. He told her he knew what he was doing. The very first time driving in downtown Denver after he got his license, he was bound and determined to drive there for the Broncos first super bowl win, when there were over a million people there. Let's just say Mom was very happy when he arrived home safe and sound.

He was absolutely crazy about sports. He was a good baseball player who played various positions very well but he didn't enjoy that sport as much because he said there was too much sitting around. He soon discovered basketball fit him better at the age of 8. He was a little spark plug on the basketball court, shooting 3's masterfully and stealing the ball every chance he could get. He had a couple of nicknames, "Beep Beep" because he was as fast as a roadrunner and one of his coaches called him his little thief because he stole the ball so often. He had many different coaches in competitive basketball and everyone of them commented to his mom about how much heart he had in his playing. He was an excellent point guard, but was not about getting the glory as he just wanted to always do the best for the team. Saturdays for many years growing up were filled with this excitement for him and his mom, dad, stepmom and brother. His mom used to beam when people in the stands would say, "Who is that little blonde kid? He sure is good and so fast."

He was an excellent golfer when he was still able to play. He hit his first hole in one at the age of 16 at the Racoon Golf Course. At about the age of 9, when he had first discovered golf, his mom was at work and received an excited phone call from him saying, "Mom, I kind of made my own golf course out back and I used a paper cup for the hold. I am so excited, I hit the ball and got a hole in one, right into the cup!" He took second in the state his junior year of high school for Chatfield.

Although he followed and supported all the Denver teams, the Broncos ruled supreme in his heart. His mom remembers both of them screaming at the top of their lungs on the phone with each other after the super bowl win. He thought it was pretty funny that his mom lost her voice and was hoarse for a week and she and her friend blew out their car horn. How he loved having people over to watch Bronco games, as he loved entertaining people and cooking for them.

His sense of humor was unsurpassed. He would even make waiters and waitresses laugh when going out to dinner. He had discovered the joy of cooking the last few years of his life and he came up with some pretty tasty dishes which he loved trying out on his mom and the people he worked with. He had made the comment that he would have liked to have been either a chef or a comedian. If you think about it, both of those things bring joy and giving of yourself for others, which was what he was all about. He and his friend from work, David Eastridge had to be separated during meetings because they were always cutting up and making everyone laugh. He had made the comment that he and David could have easily done the show, "Impractical Jokers" and made it even better.

He always had a great respect and special place in his heart for single mothers since his parents divorced when he was 6 yrs. old. His dad and brothers from other mothers loved to go on fishing and camping trips and had a great many stories about those times and treasured them dearly. They all had matching brown fishing hats. Before they split up, his dad taught him about fishing at Chatfield Reservoir. His first fish was caught using his Snoopy fishing pole. He was always excited about a good bargain and loved going to Costco (thanks to his friend Alice) for the good deals and the free samples!

During the time when his mom also worked at Dish, she had many people come up to her and tell her Justen was the best supervisor they had ever had in their lives. He truly cared about the people he worked with and helped many of them get promoted.

He loved the Broncos, the Yankees, golf, sports center, fantasy football, fishing with his dad and brother, board games, poker, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, cooking shows, Impractical Jokers, crab legs, artichokes, popsicles, his mom's scalloped corn and his stepmom's green bean casserole. He adored his grandma and he had nicknamed her "Happy Grandma" at about the age of 3. He loved his mom's best friend, Michelle, who has been there for him and his mom through many crises, major and minor. He loved his dog Jadie and his dog from the past, Sallie. But most of all he loved his family and friends. He loved people. He loved growing up in "The Settlement" town home with his mom which was the usual hangout for him and his friends. The things he hated most - people being selfish or unkind and ..............ONIONS!

He was so proud when he bought his condo and took great joy in decorating it. He had an eye for style and he and his mom had a great time putting it together. You had the world by the tail, Justen, you just didn't realize it. You were so happy as you watched your friends building their families, all the time yearning in your heart for the same. Your loneliness overtook you and alcohol became your tool to avoid your sadness in living alone. He would ask that anyone with problems like that to get the help that he could not seem to get for himself. He had said, "Look what it's done to me." It was a battle he would not win.

What a loss to lose him at such a young age. He will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him and had the pleasure of him brightening their day. He never got to go to Universal Studios, Norway or Victoria, Canada, or go swimming and golfing again. The world has lost a great human being with a heart of gold. He graduated with honors at the school of knowing how to be the greatest friend ever. He made friends easily and once you were his friend, you were friends for life. Many of his close friends and he have been friends since kindergarten and grade school.

So Please remember him every time you hear someone laugh, because to him that is the sweetest sound ever. Remember his kind and caring ways and that we should all strive to be the type of friend he knew how to be. You will always touch our hearts, Justen, and bring a smile to our faces when we think of you with your special ways. We will never forget you, such a great and wonderul guy.

Now you are with your "Happy Grandma", (Irene), your Grandpa Bappe, (Walter), Grandpa Rex, Grandma Jean, Uncle David, your cousin Tim, your beloved friends Churck and Mary and your dog Sallie. I am sure you are having a wonderful time and making sure they are all making the beautiful music of laughter.

His mom, known by Sueelly" to many of you, has requested that his friends, reach out to her from time to time to share stories, memories and let her know what is going on in your lives.

Farewell Justen, we know you are golfing, swimming, visiting Norway, soon watching the Broncos and telling jokes with Grandpa Bappe, who you finally got to meet.

Justen was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Walter and Irene Bappe, paternal grandparents Rex and Jean Holmes, uncle David Holmes, and cousin Tim Bappe.

He is survived by his mother Sue Ellyne Holmes, father Richard Holmes, step-mother Chris Holmes, brothers David Grassia (Holmes) and wife Lindsey, and Travis Holmes; nieces Amanda, Ashley, Kristen, and Makinlee Rose and many loving aunts, uncles, his dog Jadie (J.D. for Justen's dog) and tons of beloved friends.

*****Please wear Broncos attire for the service if possible.********


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