John Gaalswyk

John R. Gaalswyk, age 53, of Fort Collins died on October 14, 2008 at Poudre Valley Hospital. A viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, October 18 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Dr., Ft. Collins. John's funeral service will be held on Sunday, October 19 at 1:30 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins. John's cremated remains will be buried at the Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Juvenile Diabetes Association or to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program. John was born July 1, 1955 in St Louis Park, Minnesota to Arie and Corolyn Gaalswyk. He grew up in Sioux Falls. After graduating from high school, he worked all over the west and up into Alaska as a heavy equipment mechanic in the construction industry. John moved to Fort Collins in 1983 where he was the owner of JR's Mobile Service as an auto mechanic. He married Charlene Liggett-Taylor on July 13, 1987 in Sioux Falls.                John was an avid motorcycle rider and raced in his youth. He loved anything involving speed including downhill skiing and sky diving. He was scuba certified and owned an ultra light airplane. John lived his life to the fullest – he pushed the limit. He would want to be remembered as a good and honest man and mechanic. John is survived by his wife, Charlene; their daughter Kari Gaalswyk; his father, Arie Gaalswyk of Fairmont, MN, his brother, Joel Gaalswyk of Spring Green, WI; his sister, Judy Gaalswyk of Rapid City, SD; fifty-one 1st cousins; and one nephew, Ian Thomas of Parker, CO.