Obituary of John Walker Northrop

John W. Northrop passed away on Friday, March 10, 2023 at Grace Pointe in Greeley.  He was born September 15, 1932 in Omaha, NE to Frank E. and Gertrude (Wheeler) Northrop. 

John was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa where he graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1950.  He graduated from Colorado College in 1954 and attended St. Louis College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1955 with Honors.

John devoted his career to helping others and serving grieving families with compassion and care.  He began with Remple Funeral Home in Colorado Springs until moving to Greeley in 1956 where he worked as a licensed funeral director and embalmer for Adamson Mortuary.  He was appointed Deputy Coroner, serving for 20 years.  In 1982, John became a managing partner of Adamson Funeral Home, retiring from full-time work in January 1998.  He continued to help on a part-time basis for the next 15 years, often stopping in to catch up and have coffee with the team. 

In 1957, John married Betty Heberlein.  They had two daughters; Renae and Amy.  Betty passed away November 22, 1991. 

On December 11, 1999, he married Kathy Schmidt. 

John was a member of Cornerstone Community Church, the Greeley Elks Lodge, a former member of the Masonic Lodge, El Jebel Shrine, Greeley Moose Lodge, Greeley Noon Lion’s Club, Senior Men’s Golf Association, Knife and Fork Club and several bowling teams. 

In Elks Lodge competition, he was named All American in three different offices and won the “Tatman Trophy” for high point officer twice and also achieved the level of Exalted Ruler. 

John loved to motorcycle and travel, traveling extensively with friends throughout the U.S. and Canada on his motorcycles.  He loved to ride with his little dog, Muffin on his Harleys.  He enjoyed many trips to Mexico, taking cruises, and trips to Estes Park with his wife, Kathy as well as traveling to the lakes of Minnesota with his family.  A highlight was a trip to Europe with his daughters.  Being a father of two beautiful daughters and a granddad made him the most proud.   

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, his daughters; Renae (Gary) Stringer and Amy (John) Lee both of Greeley, step-daughter, Vicki (Bill) Crouse of Strasburg, four grandchildren; Ashley (Robert) Sherman of Greeley, Sarah (Kevin) Baumgartner of Fort Collins, Joe (Morgan) Lee of Greeley and Morgan Lee of Severance, two step-grandchildren; Connor and Preston Crouse of Strasburg, three great-grandchildren; Emily and Wesley Sherman, Thea Baumgartner, his sister-in-law, Mary Northrop of Hastings, NE as well as many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Frank, his sister, Mary Ellen Stewart and his grandson, Michael Lee. 

The family would like to extend special thanks to Yanet, Kelly, Terri, Fred, Larry and Rebecca of Accent Care for the outstanding care John received.  They would also like to thank the staff, especially Wendy, at Grace Pointe for their wonderful care. 

A visitation will be held from 12’noon to 1 p.m. followed by a Life Celebration at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2023 at Adamson Life Celebration Home.  A reception will follow and the interment will be held at Linn Grove Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the “Michael Ray Lee Foundation” in care of Adamson, 2000 47^th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634 or at https://michaelraylee.com.  Condolences may be shared at AdamsonCares.com.