John Joseph Degnan

John Degnan, beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend, passed away on August 27, 2025, at the age of 55 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Though his time was far too short, John filled each and every moment with music, laughter, and a joy for life that was impossible to resist.

John began his story in Dubuque, Iowa, born to Dr. Donald and Ann Mooney Degnan on December 2, 1969. He was the youngest of five children — the cherished little brother of Bill, Ellen, Karen, and Donald. Growing up on the banks of the Mississippi, he carried with him a lifelong love for Dubuque, its beauty, and the humor and warmth that defined his family. At Wahlert High School, John was known for two things: his sharp wit and his love of music. He could crack a perfectly timed one-liner in the hallway and then, not long after, disappear into the chords of Prince, Hendrix or dozens of others; singing and strumming notes that seemed to flow from his very soul.

At Creighton University in Omaha, John earned a degree in Organizational Communication, though the truest diploma he carried from those years was the circle of friends who would become brothers and sisters for life. They learned quickly that time with John meant two things: your cheeks would hurt from laughing, and your soul would be stirred by music you had not yet discovered but would never forget. John’s personality brought everyone that entered his orbit a feeling of connection, vibrance, and being part of something special that has since carried on in each of them.

Colorado became the stage where John’s greatest love story unfolded. At Janus Service Corp, he met Lisa Wray, the love of his life. Lisa was not just John’s partner, but his compass, his harmony, his best audience, and his truest fan. Theirs is a story filled with laughter, music, love, and devotion to each other. John’s love for Lisa was as deep as it was boundless. Together they built a life that centered around their son, John, who grew up surrounded by his father’s humor, intelligence, music, and love of family and friends. Whether John was teasing his family with a sly remark or spinning a record at home, Lisa and their son John know that their lives are richer for the joy he brought to them.

John’s career in financial services spanned more than 30 years; defined by both professional achievements and the imprint he left on the many people he inspired. Following Janus, John joined a Boston-based consulting firm where he created and delivered training programs for companies around the globe. He then spent 8 years at Wells Fargo Bank where he earned a designation as Master Facilitator. John continued his career at Bank of the West and BMO Bank, where he earned a certification as an Association for Talent Development Master Trainer. As a Learning and Development Manager and Consultant at BMO Bank, he continued to positively impact the mindsets and career growth of countless people by facilitating leadership and professional development programs for the enterprise. John was passionate about helping people learn, using kindness and humor as a way of getting people to reflect and challenge themselves.

He brought excellence and joy to his team; his empathy and deep care was evident in everything he did professionally.

For John, music was not just his pastime, it was his language. He was a world-class guitarist, referred to accurately by one friend as a “guitar sensei,” who touched our souls through his riffs and melodies, carrying his heart out into the open. John exposed his true self to others through the passion in his voice and his emotional guitar playing. His tastes stretched wide – from the Grateful Dead and Phish, to Prince, Neil Young, Jazz, and everything in between. Concerts with John were all about the music, the performers, and especially his love for sharing the experience with his friends.

And the wit. John was fearless and his timing was legendary. He could pierce silence with the perfect one-liner, cut tension with a joke, or gift you the sentence you didn’t know you needed until he said it. His humor was sharp, generous, and disarming. He had a way of saying exactly what you didn’t know you needed to hear – always welcome, and most often necessary.

Home, for John, was where music and laughter intertwined. John loved the company of his dogs, Chicco and Darby, as well as the serenity of his mountain retreat on the St. Vrain River outside of Lyons, Colorado. From his front porch, the soundtrack of rushing water blended with his guitar playing, his laughter, pool games, and jam sessions with family and friends that often stretched late into the night.

John bore a striking resemblance to his father, Don — not only in looks and mannerisms, but in the sparkle of humor they shared. Like his parents, who lived long and full lives, John’s days were measured not in years but in joy — joy created through music, laughter, and connection.

He leaves behind his wife, Lisa, his son John, and his Labrador Darby. He will be forever remembered by his siblings Bill Degnan (Ann), Ellen Degnan Weber, Karen Degnan Sorensen, and Donald Degnan (Kelly) – along with nieces, nephews, and the many friends who became family along the way. He is reunited now with his parents, Don and Ann, so we are comforted knowing they are laughing, loving on each other, and swapping stories together once more.

Though he left us too soon, John’s life was vibrant and unforgettable — a song filled with laughter, wit, and melody that will play on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Services to celebrate John’s life will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church followed by a reception on Saturday, October 17, 2025. And in true John fashion, we will be celebrating his life with music, stories, guitars in hand, laughter in the air, and love circling the room—exactly the way he would have wanted.

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In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research (https://lustgarten.org/donatenow) – and that you take a moment to listen to a song that reminds you of John, tell a story about him, use your humor and wit, or play an instrument in his honor.

Funeral Service: At 4:00 pm on October 17, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4900 Montview Blvd., Denver, CO. A reception and celebration of John’s extraordinary life will follow.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” -HST