John L. Alden

John L. Alden
1941 – 2024

John Lee Alden, 82, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away in his home on January 5, 2024. Born on April 14, 1941 in Ericson, Nebraska, John was the third of three children born to John Louis Alden and Bernice B. Weigel Alden.

In 1942, the Alden family moved to Cheyenne so that John’s dad could work in the Union Pacific Railroad Roundhouse. As a boy and a young man, John would return every summer to the Amelia, Nebraska area to work on the Lee Ranch, which was managed by John’s uncle and aunt. During his time in Nebraska, John made several life long friendships.

In Cheyenne, John attended school at Hebard Elementary and Carey Junior High. John graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1960. While attending Carey Junior High, John met his future wife, Kathy Jo Hehr. John and Kathy were married on February 3, 1963 in Cheyenne. They welcomed two daughters, Kymbrlye and Traci.

In 1961, John started his career at the Frontier Refinery in Cheyenne. John started as a laborer in the yard and worked his way up to a heavy equipment operator. After a 45-year career at Frontier Refinery, John retired in 2007.

John had many hobbies including sports, hunting, fishing and wood working. John was an artist with whatever he touched and created many family heirlooms, including cradles and rocking horses for all of his grandchildren. John also enjoyed traveling with various members of his family, including trips to Iceland, parts of Europe, Canada, Hawaii and many other states. Later in life, John felt it was extremely crucial that he and Kathy travel throughout Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming to clean the graves and place Kathy’s handmade wreaths on the gravestones of their relatives and friends.

With all of John’s life events, the most important thing to him above all else was loving, caring for and spending time with his family. John and his family worked together on countless projects over the years. In 1974, John and Kathy purchased a brand-new Dodge W100 4x4 pickup and after many years of camping and hunting trips, John and his family eventually restored the truck in 2010.

John is survived by Kathy, his wife of 60 years, daughter Kymbrlye Freeman and son-in-law Brad Freeman, daughter Traci Bush and son-in-law Jim Bush, granddaughter Victoria Bush, grandson Mickale Bush, grandson Patrick Bush, great granddaughter Poppy BushHill, sister Marlene Zumo and brother-in-law Pasco Zumo, all of Cheyenne; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, brother William “Billy” Alden, mother-in-law Beuna Metzler, father-in-law Edward Metzler, brothers-in-law Loni Hehr, Kerry Hehr, Jack Metzler, Jerry Metzler, Don Metzler, and various aunts, uncles and cousins.

Cremation has taken place at Wiederspahn Radomsky. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes, 1900 E. 19th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming. A reception will take place at The Gathering Place (across the street from the chapel) from 3:00-5:00 p.m. A private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.