JOHN MONTONY

John Charles Montony

1939-2016

John Charles Montony was born February 26, 1939 in Denver, Colorado to Charles and Juanita Montony.  He lived in a few homes in the Wheat Ridge School district and graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1957.  As a youth, John enjoyed baseball, sledding, biking, playing the clarinet, and riding motorcycles with his uncle Bob.  For several years beginning at age ten, he competed in target shooting matches and was the Colorado State Champion for his age bracket.

Out of high school, John’s first job was a car man (“odd-job” man) for the Rio Grande Railroad.  Next he worked with the Colorado State Highway as a laborer on survey parties and became interested in engineering and construction.  He began attending The Colorado School of Mines engineering school while working for the state.  After three years with the state, he advanced through merit testing to “Assistant Resident Engineer” – the youngest in the history of that department.  In 1960, he moved to a very junior but better-paying position as a timekeeper and engineering aide at Morrison Knudsen (MK), the world’s largest construction company at the time.  By the spring of 1962, he advanced to the position of engineer and was transferred to MK’s Minuteman Missile project in Sedalia, Missouri.  In 1963, he was transferred to Cheyenne, Wyoming (~2 years), then Grand Forks, North Dakota (~1.5 years), San Bruno, California (~1 year), copper mines in Chile, South America (~1.5 years), New York (~2 months), Denver, Colorado (~3 months), and finally Boise, Idaho in 1970.  From 1973-1975, unwilling to relocate to Seattle, he took a break from MK and developed and marketed real estate.  Ultimately, he worked with MK for a total of 30 years and retired as a Contract Administrator.

John loved the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing, trap shooting (he often took 1^st prize in North Dakota competitions), snowmobiling, and motorcycling.  He had a soft spot for creatures and preferred animals and pets to most people.  He listened to music daily, especially bluegrass, blues, acoustic guitar and classical.  As a photographer, he preferred capturing landscapes.  In leather-working, he made gun holsters with detailed and artistic patterns.

John died peacefully at home on November 11, 2016 at age 77.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Janice Montony, his children (daughter Robin Montony, son Scott Montony, son Chris Montony, daughter-in-law Judith Montony, daughter Dana Michaeloff and son-in-law David Michaeloff), his brother Bill Montony and sister-in-law Kathy Ring Montony and his grandchildren (Colin Hahn, Matt Montony, Madeleine Hanan, Vivienne Montony, Philip Montony, Jason Michaeloff and Maya Michaeloff).  He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Juanita Montony, and by his grandson, Ian Montony.

A Celebration of Life luncheon will be held Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11:00am-1:30pm at Louie’s Italian Restaurant, 2500 E. Fairview Ave., Meridian, ID 83642.  We hope friends will share their stories or positive reflections on John’s life with us.