Johnny J. Kalcevic

John James Kalcevic

November 15, 1937 — August 29, 2022
 

John (Johnny) Kalcevic, 84, of Bennett passed away on August 29, 2022.  He was born November 15th 1937, to John G. and Julia (Drobnitch) Kalcevic in Denver, Colorado. Johnny graduated from Brighton High School in 1956 and was the recipient of a full scholarship to the School of Mines. His love for farming and under the tutelage of his grandfather, he decided to continue farming at what is now a fifth generation family farm. While farming, he served in the 140th Air Base Squadron in the Air National Guard at Buckley Field as an MP. He was called back to duty on October 1, 1961 in the Air National Guard to guard nuclear weapons during the Cuban missile crisis. Johnny married his first wife, Janice (Jan) Greenwalt on January 19, 1963 in Denver.  Soon after marriage, John and Jan moved to Strasburg where Johnny continued farming, and where they welcomed four children.  In 1981, John and Jan moved their family to the main farm 12 miles north of Bennett.

 Farming and specifically raising wheat was Johnny’s occupation and passion. He worked alongside his grandfather, father, uncles, brother, cousin, sons, grandchildren, nephews and nieces to innovate, engineer, build, grow, finance and monitor the progress of Kalcevic Farms Inc. and its subsidiaries. Johnny could always be found in red pickup truck checking fields or sprinklers, engineering and building equipment for the farm when what he wanted hadn’t been invented yet, and then checking out the newest equipment when purchased. When not in a red pickup truck or the shop, he enjoyed repairing and pulling antique tractors, which quickly became a passion of his sons and grandchildren as well.  He remained fully committed to the farm until the last year when his health started to fail. 

 Following the death of his first wife, Johnny met and married Diane (Highland) on September 19, 1992. They spent time “glamping” in their fifth wheel trailer all over Colorado, making longtime friends. Eventually the fifth wheel was traded in for a cabin in Glacier View near Red Feather Lakes, where they and many family members spent hours fixing it up and enjoying all it had to offer.  He was thrilled to watch his grandkids and kids explore the outdoors at the cabin and spend valuable family time. They also did some traveling, including a Mississippi River Boat cruise, which they enjoyed immensely.  Johnny is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Norther Colorado Antique Tractor Pullers.

 Johnny is preceded in death by his first wife, Jan, parents, grandparents, his daughter Julaine (Julie) Packard, his son John Henry Kalcevic, and his brothers Joe and Jim Kalcevic. He is survived by his wife, Diane, children, Dorie (Ron) McInturf of Parker and Jeff Kalcevic of Bennett; Son In Law Jon Packard; his stepsons Scot (Becki) Highland, Lance (Jesse) Highland; fourteen grandchildren, Laurel (Trevor) Droogan, Benjamin (Lilly) Adams, Alec Packard, Elizabeth Packard, Frank (Shelby) Kalcevic, Annelise (Ethan) Kalcevic, Dannica Kalcevic, Janice Kalcevic, Levi Kalcevic, Bronwyn Kalcevic, Destyne Kalcevic, Bo Kalcevic, Mac Kalcevic, and E.J. Highland; four great-grandchildren, Payton, Chase, Karson Droogan and Emma Kalcevic.

 Funeral service will be held Friday, September 9th at Our Lady of the Plains Catholic Church, 193 W. Bijou Ave., Byers, CO 80103. The rosary will be at 10:00am, viewing at 10:30am and a funeral mass at 11:00am.  A luncheon will be held immediately following the service and graveside services will be held at Mount View Cemetery in Bennett at 3:00p.m.

 In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial donations or contributions be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.

 https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=11585&ovr_acv_id=16983&campaignSource=ONLINE&source=BS22027GAABREMA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpazEkbH6-QIVTNCGCh0DlA-JEAAYASAAEgKY3fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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