John Alexander Hergenreter, 91, life resident of northeast Colorado, passed away Thursday, October 3, 2013, at the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center. He was born April 20, 1922, in Sterling, CO, to Melger & Pulgeria (Artzer) Hergenreter Sr. John served his country in the U. S. Army from November 12, 1942, to February 6, 1946. He was in the Coast Artillery battalion at Fort MacArthur, CA. He also served as an interrogator of German prisoners of war in Florence, AZ. John married Ruth Kathryn Amen on May 22, 1944, in Sterling and they celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year. They have lived in Colorado their entire lives with the exception of when John served in the US Army. John spent his life farming and ranching and had a true love of the land and God's creatures. During his lifetime he built a beautiful heard of cattle, raised pigs, sheep, and horses. In 1955 he achieved the High Ten Grower award for sugar beets from the Great Western Sugar Beet Company in Sterling, CO. Following his retirement, John and Ruth spent time with their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Canada, and Michigan for fishing and site seeing. He enjoyed deer and elk hunting the mountains of Colorado. He also loved to read, reading as many as six books per week. He was a true fan of the Colorado Rockies. Survivors include his wife Ruth, of Brush; son, Duane and his wife Carole; daughters, Connie Staley, and her husband Bob, Cheryl Ellegood, and her husband Steve, and Judy Edson, and her husband Jim. He has 10 grandchildren , 17 great grandchildren and 1 great - great grandson. He was preceded in death by a son David, his parents and several siblings. A rosary service will be held Sunday, October 6, at 5:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Church. Military honors and interment will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Fort Morgan. Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush or to the St. Mary's Catholic Church.