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W. Harry Johns Jr.

Contributed report

W. Harry Johns Jr., a longtime Aspen resident, passed away Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, at the age of 91.

Johns was born to William Harry and Francis Johns on Sept. 23, 1916. “Harry,” as most knew him, moved to Colorado in 1950, worked at the Climax mine as a surveyor and miner from 1952 to 1954. He moved to Aspen in 1960 with his young family and worked as a structural engineer on the Mountain Chalet and Continental Inn.

After living in Delaware and Greece later in the 1960s, Harry moved back to Aspen in 1969. He worked for decades for the Melvilles at the Mt. Chalet. Many knew him, as he rode his bike around Aspen during all four seasons. He loved the energy of the locals. He was a fixture at the Stammtisch joiner’s table at the Wienerstube for years, enjoying the company of many Aspen characters, and the lively conversation between the diverse group.



His hobbies included tennis and skiing, but his love was biking. He once rode a modified three-speed bike from Aspen to Delaware! Later in life, he found friends in Sweden. He traveled there every year into his late 80s.

Johns is survived by children Kaaren Johns Finneston and Rand Johns of Florida, Geoffrey and Erica Johns of Colorado, Valerie Johns of Delaware and Laura Smith of California; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.




A private ceremony at the family plot will take place this summer in Pennsylvania.