Obituary of John Edward Erickson

John Edward Erickson, 76, of Loveland passed peacefully at home on December 26, 2021. John was born May 4, 1945, in DeKalb, Illinois to Milton and Mildred Erickson. He graduated from Hiawatha High School in Kirkland, IL where he served as class president in his freshman and senior years. He attended college at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL where he obtained Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering. He was active in the Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu honors societies. He served as a teaching assistant while doing research for his Masters Thesis. He later added a 2nd Masters Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. John married his college sweetheart, Janis "Sue” Erickson, on February 14, 1970. He received a commission in the United States Air Force and served as a technical manager and lead researcher for several research and development projects while living in southern California (Norton AFB) and upstate New York (Griffiss AFB). John and Sue then moved to Colorado where he became an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. John joined Hewlett-Packard, in Loveland, in 1979. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves, as the Deputy Commander for Northern Colorado AF Academy Liaison Officers, and retired from the AF with the rank of Lt Colonel. At HP, he served as technical product manager, program manager, services manager and as the multi-divisional initiative manager for HP’s automotive businesses. He did product definition and worldwide introductions of some of the Loveland division’s most successful products. He also enjoyed leading several teams that researched and developed new business opportunities. His final program, before retiring in 2002, was to manage a worldwide team in developing a post graduate curriculum to teach professional engineers the science of fiber optics communications. Since retiring he has enjoyed having more family time and especially being involved with his grandchildren, all of whom have been born since his retirement. He has also enjoyed the freedom to engage in all the activities and interests that he had developed over a lifetime, including trips to Puerto Vallarta, remote control planes, and pickleball. He is survived by his wife Sue Erickson, son Michael (Kathleen) of Timnath, CO; daughter Jennifer (Nathan) Girdner of Minden, NV; grandchildren Nicholas, Maya and Edison Erickson; Kiley, Rachel and Nolan Girdner; Christy Erickson; siblings Carol Mehlhausen of Freeport, IL, Mary (Dan) Russell of Jackson, MO and Paul (Sue) Erickson of Palatine, IL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. No formal memorial is planned at this time. A military honor burial will be planned at Fort Logan National Cemetery when the family can gather this summer. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice Pathways or a charity of your choice. If you would like to privately share a story or thoughts of John in an email or letter for legacy purposes, please feel free to do so.