Obituary of John Joseph Montgomery

Colonel John "Monty" Joseph Montgomery (Ret.), 84, of Woodland Park, Colorado, sadly passed away on March 13, 2023 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.  

He was born August, 1938 to Finley and Rachel (Pannabaker) Montgomery in Crafton, Pennsylvania. 

He graduated from Crafton High School in 1956 and from Washington and Jefferson College in 1960, where he received his bachelors of Science in Psychology.  He played football at W&J. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and got a masters degree from Boston College in Adult Education while stationed overseas. After retirement, John went back to school for accounting.

John entered the Army as a 2LT, Adjuant General Corps, from the ROTC program in April 1961.

He served two tours in Vietnam and one in Korea (having to leave his wife and new baby girl for a year). John was selected as General’s aide in Korea. He was also stationed overseas in Germany for fourteen years. He attended Army schools as well as computer science and paratrouper. Then, was promoted to Colonel in March, 1982. The medals he received were; Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

John retired in 1986 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana.

After retirement, he was an instructor for SAIC, a Fortune 500 company. As well as a government consultant for TSA after 9/11.

Then retired from his retirement in 2002 and built dream home in Woodland Park, Colorado, overlooking Pikes Peak. John loved the mountains so much.

John volunteered and enjoyed doing taxes for seniors as he loved working with numbers and finance. 

His family will remember him as a fierce protector and provider for them, who was firm in his values but fair, and became a big “softy” when his granddaugters were born.

John was a world traveler who loved to ski with his wife and daughter in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Colorado, and was on the German ski patrol.

He has been on over one hundred cruises with his wife. The Queen Mary Transatlantic was his favorite

He was an avid Pittsburgh steeler fan.
 
John became a HUGE softball fan after his granddaughters became involved in the sport, even coordinating their travel plans to be able to come to Indy to watch them play. 
 
He was a member of the Murat Shrine.

Survived in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Judy (Beers) Montgomery of Woodland Park, Colorado; daughter, Jody (Matt) Moore of Noblesville, Indiana; his pride and joy, his granddaughters, Madison Rae and Rylie Jo Moore (who lovingly called him Grandpama); sister-in-law, Nina (Brian) Birge of Blue Ridge, Georgia.  

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Finley Montgomery Jr; and sister-in-law, Margie Montgomery.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude: https://www.stjude.org/donate/srch/st-jude-donation.html?sc_dcm=58700008008698866&sc_cid=kwp&sc_cat=b&amount=x&ds_rl=1290690&ds_rl=1291300&ds_rl=1285465&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIltP-_O7q_QIVRI5bCh0yoQR2EAAYASAAEgK0DPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Graveside Service, 11:00AM, Thursday, March 23, 2023, Pikes Peak National Cemetary, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925.