John Mansheim

John Charles Mansheim, born September 4, 1938 in Salida, Colorado, died July 4, 2019 at the age of 80 in Grand Junction, Colorado following a long battle with cancer. One of seven children born to Frank and Caroline (Otte), John grew up surrounded by Colorado’s 14ers and developed a lifelong appreciation of the great outdoors and the bounties they provide. The Mansheim family was well known in the Salida area for mining and the entrepreneurial spirit of John’s father, who instilled in John and his brothers a great love of fishing and hunting. His fondest activities —and in later life fondest memories—were the annual gathering July 4 to the family’s property on Poncha Pass and his brothers’ annual gathering each fall/winter for big game hunting.

After graduating from St. Joseph’s School and Salida High School, John enlisted in the US Army and served from 1956-1959, stationed for two years in France. Returning stateside, he worked for the Martin Company while attending college part-time at the University of Colorado and later worked as an investigator with the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division. Desiring more experience in law enforcement, John left college and the DMV in 1963 to take an open position on the Salida Police Department learning under then Chief Harry Cable. New state regulations required peace officer certification, and John was the first officer in Salida to attend the police academy and among the first to become a certified peace officer. While he never completed college, he was an avid reader with an incredible knowledge of history and a love of politics. Well-known among peace officers in southern Colorado, he was promoted to captain, and retired from the Salida Police Department in 1983. He continued his career when the family relocated to Grand Junction in 1995, and he joined Hilltop as a youth coach. He retired as a client coordinator for Hilltop’s youth services, rounding out a forty-year career in law enforcement and civic service.

John is survived by his wife Linda; sons Bradley (Ave), Christopher (Heather), Michael (Billy); grandchildren Darian, Christopher and Emily of Grand Junction, CO, and brothers Frank of Arvada, CO and Richard of Salida, CO. His parents, sisters Margaret Cowart and Mary Padgett and brothers William and James Mansheim preceded him in death.

A celebration of life and interment at Fairview Cemetery in Salida, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the John Mansheim Memorial Fund, Alpine Bank, 225 North 5th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501.