October 10, 1943 - March 25, 2022
John Damon Berndsen, also known to his friends and family as Johnnie, JD, or Cowpa, passed away March 25, 2022, at age 78. He was surrounded by family as he entered heaven after a courageous battle with cancer.
Johnnie was born on October 10, 1943, in Andale, Kansas to the proud parents of John Benjamin and Ola Evelyn Berndsen. He was raised in Colorado Springs, CO with siblings Donna Mae and Laymon Joseph. The family enjoyed fishing and hunting in the Colorado mountains. They were active members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colorado Springs. Johnnie graduated from Palmer High School where he met and subsequently married Sandra Dian Gwinnup, with whom he had four children.
Johnnie owned and ran a home remodeling business for over 50 years, where he serviced customers across the front range. He was known for his gift of gab and drove his business through a strong work ethic an ability to talk to anyone.
Jeanne Downing and Johnnie married in 2001 in Loveland, CO, where Johnnie had moved his business. He and Jeanne enjoyed dancing, riding his motorcycle, spending time with their family, gold-panning, and collecting antique farm equipment. He was a devout member of the St. John Evangelist Catholic Parish in Loveland, CO, and remained active in the men’s group. He could be found most Sundays in front of the church giving five-minute Sunday School lessons to the parish kids.
Johnnie is survived by his wife, Jeanne Berndsen and his four children; Jeff (wife Annette) Berndsen, Allyson (husband Paul) Womack, Cyndy (husband Kyle) Cordell, and Wyndy (husband Richard) Rice, three stepchildren; Billie Jo Downing, Jenny Lee Ballard, and Brent Downing, along with seventeen grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
The family has scheduled a funeral service on Thursday, March 31 at 4 pm. Service will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish, 1730 W. 17th St., Loveland, CO. Johnnie will be laid to rest in Colorado Springs next to his mother and father.
