John Edward Puskas

John Edward Puskas passed away on November 15, 2023  at his beautiful mountain log home that he built along with his wife in Conifer in 1977. He was born on May 6, 1949 in Hartford, Connecticut to Joseph and Eva (Krumm) Puskas.  He graduated from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas with a Computer Science degree.  He married Karen Ann Larson on April 28, 1973 in Hutchinson, Kansas.  They honeymooned in Colorado and decided to continue the honeymoon there for the next 50+ years. He retired from the Information Technology department at Jefferson County in 2006 after working there as a Project Manager for 27 years.

He played lead guitar throughout the late 1960’s in New England rock bands Colt 45 and Electric Image. His band mates were like brothers to him, and he loved meeting up with them for band reunions over the years.

John was a skilled woodworker, building everything you could think of including his mountain homestead and barn, custom cabinetry, and eventually Extreme Bird Houses (or EBHs as he called them)  EBHs were his latest woodworking obsession as he loved designing, building and putting the finishing touches on them throughout the winter and giving them to his most treasured friends.

He was very passionate about his hot rod, a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe named “Ruby” and his 1957 Willy's pickup named “Floyd”.   John participated in many car shows, winning multiple trophies and gained many hot-rod buddies through this social activity.

John always dreamed of being a racecar driver, and was able to fulfill that dream by racing a few seasons in SCCA RallyCross in the #43 car.

Survivors are his wife Karen Puskas and two daughters Susan Lawson and husband Max of Parker, CO and Kari Johnson and husband Alvin, of Littleton, CO.

He was preceded in death by his brother Joseph Junior “Butch” and his parents.

Services are being planned and will be announced once finalized.

Memorial contributions can be made to any of the following charities, which meant so much to John.

Intermountain Humane Society

https://www.imhs.org/waystohelp

American Cancer Society

https://donate.cancer.org

Mountain Area Land Trust

https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/MALT

Elk Creek Fire Protection District

https://elkcreekfpd.colorado.gov/support/donate

Or please consider donating blood https://www.vitalant.org/  John was a very proud blood donor donating over 10 gallons of blood!