Lord Johndavid Justus

*Lord Jon David (JD) Justus

J.D. was born on June 2, 1940 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Hutchinson, KS to Irvin Fredrick Justus and Gertrude Theede. He passed away on Oct. 10, 2007 at his home. He was the oldest of 3 children. He grew up on a farm near Nickerson, KS with his sister Linda Beth and his brother Larry Gene. In 1948 at the age of 8, he spent the summer confined to his bed with rheumatic fever.

He grew tall (6'7") and strong, the way they bred the folk in Kansas to grow. He graduated from Nickerson High School in 1958. Upon his graduation from High School he took off for Fort Hays State College. In the years of college he learned a lot but it was his summers that showed him his future more than anything.

During college J.D. took a job in the Student Union in the food area and in the summer he worked at the YMCA camp in Colorado called Camp Chief Ouray. He loved the mountains, he loved cooking and he made a really good friend named Byron Starr. After 2 years of college he moved to Denver, CO. He rented a small apartment, took a job at a Laundromat, and found fun and exciting ways to fill his life. He joined a group called Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to work with kids and hang out around airplanes....Another new found love.

He eventually moved from his small apartment into a home with his friend, Byron and wife Charlotte at 830 Lee Street. J.D. changed jobs from the Laundromat to working as an accountant for VanAsk Warehouse. They distributed food to schools. In 1966 he bought a home across the street at 835 Lee Street which would be his home for the next 36 years. Still participating in Civil Air Patrol, in 1970 he met a divorced woman named Sharlene Mae Townshend. She had two boys, Gregory Ray and Robert Laymon. He married and adopted Greg and Bob, and thus started his family.

To this union, four children were born, Larry Gene, James Darin, Bradley Allen and Anna Christina. The marriage ended in divorce. J.D. retained sole custody of all children. The following 20 years saw no change in J.D.'s professional life, but his family life became more complicated as his family grew older. He worked hard to give his kids as much as he could afford. He found ways to bankroll two sons in football, one in speech and theatre, one in basketball, one in photography and his daughter in band and choir. He took his children on trips to Utah, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Withurch family cabin outside of Allen's Park, CO.

On Sept. 28, 1975 J.D. was baptized with his son, Greg and became an active member of the LDS church. He served as a Librarian and financial clerk for many years.

He sent his older sons on missions. He saw three sons married and three grandchildren were added to the family. J.D. loved each one of his daughters-in-law as if they were his own children.

The year J.D. turned 60 he suffered a series of accidents and incidents that led to several surgeries. As he would say, his body started falling apart. In 1999 J.D. began his fight against prostate cancer that would eventually take his life. He fought the cancer into remission but it came back in 2005. J.D. took early retirement due to his health and returned to his first love: cooking.

J.D. started as a volunteer in the Denver Temple cafeteria which turned into an employee position. While working at the Temple he met Norma Ruth McDaniel. They knew love when they felt it and were married on December 6, 2003. Marrying Norma added to J.D.'s family 4 stepchildren and spouses, 8 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

J.D. and Norma were sealed in the Denver Temple on October 14, 2006. J.D. had always had a desire to go to Hawaii and Alaska so they traveled to both places. By December 2006, J.D.'s cancer was attacking him with fury. He took two kinds of chemo and other medicines to no avail. He fought a hard fight to the end but lost his battle on Oct. 10, 2007.

*In 2007 Robert gifted his dad, J.D. a deed of land in Lachaber, Scotland, thus giving him the title of "Lord" as a Scottish landowner, though he would be much to humble to ever use the title.

J.D. is preceded in death by his Father, Mother and younger brother, Larry. He is survived by his wife, Norma, six children, Greg and his wife, Angie, Robert and his wife Jennifer, Larry, Darin, Bradley and his wife, Rebecca, and daughter Anna. Four step-children, Steven and wife, Darlene McDaniel, Craig McDaniel, Preston and wife, Anfissa McDaniel, and Rebecca and husband, Jason Jovanovich. Three grandchildren, Porter, Jordin Kimberly, and Jordan Ann Justus. Eight step grandchildren, Curtis and wife, Emily McDaniel, Christina and husband Zach Finucane, Chad, Troy, Benjamin, Elliot, Cassandra McDaniel and Piper Jovanovich. Three step great-grandchildren, Thomas McDaniel, Mikayla and Kaitlyn Finucane. His sister Linda and husband Harold Waggoner, and niece Michelle and her husband Jim Jiricek.