July 1, 1941 – September 14, 2022

Living the dream between Estero, Florida and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, William (Bill) Juska, 81, passed away September 14th at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado after a long battle with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Bill was always a pleasant and calming person, so it was quite fitting he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He loved to play golf and only recently retired his skis, He was a constant reminder of strength, perseverance, and living life to the fullest.
Over the years, Bill spent time in New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Georgia, Estero Florida, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He always enjoyed a few bourbons on the rocks, playing golf, skiing the greatest trails in the US, and acquiring an impressive collection of carnival glass. Whether he was enjoying the sun while playing a round of golf or cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide to (another) National Championship, Bill Juska was a constant source of smiles, laughs and warmth to those around him.
Born July 1,1941 to Edward Juska and Helen Hallmyer in Township of Neptune in Monmouth Co, New Jersey. Bill was raised in Spring Lake Heights, NJ, and then went to University of Maryland, where he graduated as a real Terps fan until he met Gail and became an avid Alabama “Roll Tide” fan.
Bill is survived by; his wife of 30 years, Gail Eulenstein; son Steven Juska (Alison) of North Wales, PA; daughter Sharon Juska Bathurst (Doug) of West Deptford, NJ. Bill also shared the joy of fatherhood to Gail’s children Donna Widmaier (Ralph) of Estero, FL, Terri LaBarge (Cliff) of Birmingham, AL, and Scott Monroe (Vicki) of Smyrna, GA. Bill is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Sydney Juska, Alexa Juska, Lily Juska, and Ella Juska; Rachel Bathurst and Audrey Bathurst; Kevin Widmaier, Lauren Widmaier Linville, Meghan Widmaier, Connor LaBarge, Garrett LaBarge, and Ainslee Monroe; 2 great-grandsons: Michael and Mark Widmaier; his brothers Ed Juska (Fruitland, FL), and Tom Juska (Crystal City, VA). Bill was predeceased in death by his father and mother, his older brother John Juska and his sister, Sue Juska Pringle.
Bill was blessed to have many friends in both Colorado and Florida. A celebration of his life will be held later in Estero, FL at Pelican Sound Golf & River Club, and in Philadelphia, PA..
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Hospice organization.
Arrangements are in the care of the Yampa Valley Funeral Home.

October 18, 1941 – September 21, 2022

John Ray Schalnus, 80, was called home to be with the Lord on Sep. 21, 2022. He was born on Oct. 18, 1941, to Otto and Mollie (Foos) Schalnus in Oak Creek, CO. He grew up just south of Yampa hoeing spinach and lettuce with his family. In 1960, John’s class was the last graduating class from Yampa Union High. Through middle school and high school John was a great athlete playing football and basketball. He served 6 months active duty in the Army. He made a living doing what he loved. He worked side by side with his brother, Jerry, growing what would become Schalnus Brothers Ranch. John took a while to find a woman who was as tough as he was but he finally found Patricia (Pat). They met in 1981while she was up helping a friend load hay. They were married July 17, 1982 and were blessed with three children. John was known to be a tough cowboy. He could tell many stories about breaking horses to ride and teams to pull. His animals were his number one priority and he took great pride in them. He was the first one all the neighbors called when they needed help getting work done. He worked hard all his life but never once complained. He was doing what he truly loved. John also enjoyed hunting and fishing. In his younger years, he spent a lot of his falls over in the White River in a wall tent hunting elk. After he was married and had kids they would take a family pack trip into the Flat Tops every year. These trips were the only vacation that he would take. He was a simple man and loved the beauty of his home and where it sat. John had a strong faith and was an active member of Mountain Valley Lutheran Church. His and Pat’s house was the location for many church services. His survivors include; daughter, Shanna Lewis (Walt Church); son, Joe (Kristi) Schalnus; daughter, Katie (Mike) Miller; grandchildren, Taylore, Kayla, Jett, Cora, Emma, Abigail, Waylon, and Erin; brother, Jerry Schalnus; sisters, Marilyn Butterbaugh, Ruth (Toots) Wince, Carol Bittle. Along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents; brother, Jim; sister, Arlene; son-in-law, Cary Lewis. Contributions can be made in his memory to Mountain Valley Lutheran Church in Eagle, CO, in care of Grant Mortuary.

October 18, 1941 – September 21, 2022

John Schalnus, longtime Yampa resident, died Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Sandrock Ridge Care Center in Craig. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 26, 2022 at Yampa Bible Church. Interment will follow in Yampa Cemetery.

March 12, 1936 – September 20, 2022

Sid Wheelock, of Hayden, died Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at his home. At Sid’s request, no services will be held.

November 20, 1937 – September 12, 2022

Janet passed away quietly while at home under hospice with five of her six children by her side in Hayden. Janet was born in Ohio to Carl & Josephine Lightfoot. She moved to California in the 1960’s where she met Bill Layman, the love of her life. They were together 45 years until he passed on 7/31/12. She was adored by all. She raised six kids plus worked full time. After the kids had grown, they moved to Bend, Oregon to retire. After a few years moved on to Twin Falls, Idaho, then on to Cody, Wyoming. They liked to snowbird in Tucson, Arizona, so they worked summers to play in winter. Two years after Bill had passed, Janet’s family moved her to Hayden, Colorado to be closer to them. She is preceded in death by her parents Carl & Josephine, her sister Barb, Beloved husband Bill and two grandsons Eli and Jeremy. Survived by six children Ron (Leona) Cunningham, Ohio, Patty Hoyt, Colorado, Brenda (Tom) Bowlin, Oregon, Jim (Karen Finley) Cunningham, Oregon, Kim Cunningham, Colorado, and Jeff Cunningham, Colorado, Along with thirteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, six great great grandchildren, Sister Ann, and Brother Joe, Ohio, plus nieces and nephews. A small graveside service will be at Hayden Cemetery, Colorado Saturday September 24, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.

September 10, 1928 – August 14, 2022

Natalie Ethel Warsky, 93, passed away on Sunday, August 14 at Somerby Senior Living in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Natalie was born September 10,1928 in Springfield, MA. Her parents were Lewis John Warsky and Ethel Fern Frennier. She graduated from Winchester High School, Winchester MA in 1946. Following high school, she attended Vermont Junior College in Montpelier, VT from 1946-1948 and earned a secretarial certificate.

Natalie was employed by AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ where she was the Administrative Assistant to Arno Penzias, whose research enabled confirmation of the Big Bang Theory. She was also executive secretary for the town of Westfield, NJ for the Planning Commission and the Police Department.

Natalie and her family lived in Winchester, MA, Newington, CT; Birmingham, MI; Paoli, PA and Westfield, NJ. Following her retirement from Bell Laboratories, she moved to Steamboat Springs, CO, around 1990.

Natalie was always an active church member, loved to sing and often joined church choirs. During her time in Steamboat she volunteered at the Strings in the Mountains and for the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary. She was an expert knitter and enjoyed travel throughout the United States and Europe. She loved participating in sports – tennis, golf, skiing, hiking and ice skating – and was involved in bridge groups for many years in the various places she lived.

Natalie is survived by her daughters Sandra Leigh (Cowan) Reber, married to Martin Reber of Coatesville, PA and Karen Leslie (Cowan) van Scoyk, married to Ward van Scoyk of Steamboat Springs, CO and Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Natalie is also survived by four grandchildren: Thomas Matthew Reber, Megan Leigh (Reber) Telson, Richard Barrett Fisher and Karissa Ashleigh (Fisher) Humenik. She is also survived by six great grandchildren: Phillip Matthias Reber, Patrick Lorenzo Reber, Isabel Ana Telson, Alma Ophelia Telson, Maci Ann Humenik and Maia Ashleigh Humenik. She was predeceased by daughter Cynthia Lynn (Cowan) McConnell in 2011 and former husband Francis Cowan, Jr. in 2014.

A memorial service is planned to be held at Heart of Steamboat Springs United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on June 17, 2023. Contributions may be made to Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church, 736 Oak St, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 in memory of Natalie Ethel (Warsky) Cowan.

November 20, 1937 – September 12, 2022

Hayden resident, Janet Layman died on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 at her residence in Hayden. She was 84. Services are pending.

January 20, 1945 – September 7, 2022

Fran Meacham of Hayden died peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at her home. She was 77. Fran’s potluck will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Dry Creek Park in Hayden. Meat and drinks will be provided. Please feel free to bring a dish to share.
Frances Kay Black was born the daughter of Dean and Jackie Black on January 20, 1945 at the Oakland Alameda Naval Base in Oakland, California. She had three sisters: Nancy, Audrey and Linda; and one brother, Larry Dean. Fran grew up in Delta, Utah, and later called Hayden, Colorado her home.
On January 26, 1963, she married Doug Meacham. To this union, two daughters, Vickie Jean and Wendy Lee were born.
She was an avid sports fan. Her favorite teams were the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Colorado Rockies. She also loved watching her family play sports. In her school years, Fran was a great softball player, loved to golf, bowl and ride horses. She was an awesome baker! Applesauce chocolate chip cookies and Christmas sugar cookies were her families all time favorite treats (made with GMA LOVE). Fran’s heart was completely overflowing with love for her family and she was the heart of the family. She was the best and will be missed so much!
Fran is survived by her husband, Doug Meacham; two daughters and their husbands, Vickie Jean (Dennis) Parrott and Wendy Lee (Shawn) Buckley; six grandchildren: Megan, Dusty(Katie), Katie(Dave), Garrett, Shaylyn (Braeden) and Kaylee; four great-grandchildren: Nichole, Payton, Haylie and Wylie; and one great grandson on the way.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Fran’s memory be made payable to West Routt Firefighters Scholarship Fund in care of Grant Mortuary.

– September 4, 2022

Gregory Frank Acorn (Greg, Corndog, Corn, Acorn) of Blue Lake, passed away after yet another courageous battle 30 years after his original spinal cord injury.

Born and raised in Blue Lake, CA Greg spent 20+ years in Steamboat Springs, CO before moving back to California where he spent the last 25 years

Greg’s love of being outdoors began at a young age fishing in Blue Lake with his grandfather , Ira Acorn and shooting and hunting with Lee Iorg, a lifelong friend, and playing, swimming and water skiing in the rivers and lakes. His love of being active and outside continued in football and hang gliding. In Colorado he pursued snow skiing (downhill and telemark), snow boarding, rafting, jet skiing, camping, continued hunting both rifle and bow (deer and elk mostly), playing rugby and flying an ultra light. But when Greg found rugby he found a game he both enjoyed playing and watching and lifelong friends he loved and cherished. Even when Greg could no longer participate in any of these sports his favorite place was always outdoors. Since he had elk and deer that frequent the property he was able to watch them and listen in the fall to the elk bugling and herding the girls around. He loved to see the bulls battle. He loved going to old car shows and the local casinos with his cousin Kevin. Most often he could be found in his garage puttering around on his ’51 Chevy truck. Of course he had to watch the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. Anyone that knew Greg knew his love of dogs. He always had a dog(s).

Anyone that was privileged to be Greg’s friend knew they had a friend for life. He loved people and as he would say when he would call, ‘just bugging you’. Brother Bill would say of Greg ‘he never met a stranger’. Even in the hospital he was still making friends. As we know all of us had an extra 30 years with Greg on this earth.

January 12, 1982 – September 7, 2022

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Christopher John Rhodes, our beloved father, husband, son, brother, and friend to so many.

Chris was born January 12, 1982 and lived fiercely every day of his forty years. He was pure goodness.

Chris will be missed deeply by his wife Mara McManus Rhodes and their three children Anna June, Bode Christopher and Carey Julian, his parents Robert and Mary Lee Rhodes, sister Carolyn Rhodes Stiles and husband Spencer Stiles, brother Brian Rhodes and fiancé Kelly LaRich, his many nieces and nephews, his in-laws Joseph and Denise McManus, and his Steamboat Springs community.

Chris was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio and attended Gesu School. He graduated from Orange High School having spent his formative years running his lawn care business, rock climbing, playing lacrosse, snowboarding, and making his friends and family laugh, often quoting lines from his favorite movies.

His adventurous spirit led him west to Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat, Class of 2002. It was there he found his passion for the mountains and met his best friend and the love of his life, Mara. Together they shared a devotion to nature, spending their days biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and camping with their children.

Anna, Bode, and Carey are the very best parts of Chris and through them his bright light will shine on. Over the years Chris and Mara built a successful business, Soda Mountain Construction and Design. Chris’ entrepreneurship, creativity, attention to detail, trustworthiness, and good humor have touched the lives of so many. Chris and his family are cherished members of their Steamboat community.

To honor Chris, a celebration of his life will be held on Monday, September 26, 2022 at 5pm at The Strings Pavilion in Steamboat. In lieu of sending flowers and gifts, donations may be made in Chris’ name to the Christopher Rhodes Memorial Fund via https://gofund.me/a90a44f0. Funds will be used to support local organizations close to Chris’ heart.