Harry Robert Cronenberg

Harry Robert Cronenberg, AKA, Johnny Cronenberg, passed away peacefully on May the 7th at Assured Assisted Living Center in Castle Rock, Colorado due to complications of Alzheimer’s. Johnny was born on June 27th, 1943, in Saline, Kansas to Harry Ward Cronenberg and Lillian Eva Foster. Lillian and Harry latter divorced, and Harry Ward latter married Gertrude Louise Martin in 1946. Gertrude adopted Johnny as her son and Harry Ward adopted Gertrude’s Daughter Barbara as his daughter.

Surviving Johnny are his children, twins Bill Vaughn Cronenberg of Commerce City, Colorado and Jody Dawn Sauer, married to Dale Matthew Sauer, both of Montrose, Colorado, and pride and joy Grandson Zane Matthew Sauer of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Johnny also has two surviving siblings, Lori Shindo Daughter of Lillian Foster and Russell Cronenberg Son of Harry Ward Cronenberg and Gertrude Cronenberg.

The following proceeded Johnny in death, his Father Harry Ward Cronenberg, his Mother Lillian Eva Foster, his adopted mother Gertrude Cronenberg, his Brothers Harlow Glenn Cronenberg, Loren Ward Cronenberg and adopted sister, Barbara Quillen.

Johnny grew up in Lamar, Colorado where he graduated from High School in 1962. He played baseball in high school, where he was the pitcher, until an injury ended his baseball dreams. In high school, Johnny proved to be quite the prankster to his teachers and fellow classmates. He told these stories with a twinkle in his eye and a happy smile.

Johnny loved all things mechanical, planes, trains, automobiles, and helicopters. He also loved music and collected high end audio equipment and listened to a diverse assortment of music, from the oldies but goodies of the 50’s and 60’s, to Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, and The Bee Gees. He even learned how to play the violin as a child. One of his greatest passions in Johnny’s life was building Small Block Chevy engines and engineering the greatest amount of horsepower that he could out of each engine. Along with engines, he loved building hot rod cars, frame up restorations, with extra Johnny touches like hidden wire harnesses, the battery in the trunk, alternator hidden by the rear wheel. He loved hanging out in railroad yards learning how the locomotives worked and how they navigated in the railroad yards. He was an avid HO model train collector with over 5,000 models that he historically detailed with his son Bill, to their correct time and location in history. His dream in life was to learn how to fly a plane, he did not achieve that dream, but he did learn how to fly a helicopter while working for Jelco in Utah in the 1970s. Johnny had a knack for taking things apart, figuring out how they worked and putting them back together so that they worked even better.

Johnny met his first wife Linda Sue Coleman while working at the Colona Country Store, that was owned and operated by the Cronenberg’s. Linda had ridden her pinto mare to the store, for a soda and Johnny feel in love instantly. They later married on May the 3rd 1966 and in January of 1967, they welcomed twins Jody Dawn and Billy Vaughn. Johnny and Linda divorced in 1980. Johnny latter married Debby Davis Cunningham on February 14th, 1999, at Ridgway State Park, they later divorced but remained very loving friends.

Johnny worked for many different companies in his lifetime, allowing him to work all over the western United States, from the very bottom of Arizona to the very top of Montana and Washington. Johnny even spent six months working in Saudi Arabia. Johnny loved making a difference to the companies that he worked for.

Johnny will be missed by all that knew and loved him. A Celebration of life will be held on June the 20th at Cerise Park in Montrose Colorado, starting at 1:00PM. This will be a celebration of a life well lived, so please bring a story to share as you all know Johnny loved stories. Arrangements have been made for a hot rod drive down main street with a sheriff escort, so please bring your hot rod car (if you want) parking will be blocked off for the cars. Family will provide desserts and beverages.

If you are unable to attend but want to share a story you can send it to Jody at ClassCInvestment@gmail.com. Final arrangements handled by HORAN & McCONATY of Denver, Colorado.