John L. DeLuke, Sr.
“Johnny the Barber”
Johnny was born on February 13, 1932 at his family home in Duanesburg, New York to John and Teresa (Palmieri) DeLuke. He was the youngest of ten children and very proud of his Italian heritage.
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend “left to go fishing” on February 19, 2016 after just celebrating his 84th birthday.
Johnny leaves behind his beloved bride of 60 years, Trudy; his children: Cynthia (Tom), Cheryl (Harold), and John Jr. (Peggy); his grandchildren: Michelle (Jerod), Jennifer (Ray), Matthew, Andrew, Tiffany (Mark), Patrick (Kristen), Daniel, Eric, and Logan; and great grandchildren: Nicole, Alina, Xalin, and Evangeline. He is also survived by four of his ten siblings: Nancy, Mary, Margaret (Jim), and Ethyl (Ernie), along with numerous nieces, nephews and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Teresa; sisters, Antoinette (Ernest) and Anna (Herbie); and brothers: Tony, Jimmy, and Frankie DeLuke.
Johnny played semi-pro baseball on a farm team in upstate New York before joining the Navy at an early age. It was while stationed in Charleston, South Carolina after serving in Korea that he met his soon-to-be bride, Trudy.
After Johnny and Trudy married on October 31, 1956 they moved from South Carolina back to New York where Johnny worked for General Electric. They later moved to Colorado where he attended barber school while working at his brother, Jimmy’s Conoco station on South Nevada Avenue.
After finishing barber school he opened “Johnnie’s Barber Shop” which he owned and operated for over 55 years. He later went to work part-time at Hair Infusion until he retired last year.
Over the years, Johnny was a member of the Izaak Walton League, Moose Lodge and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
His favorite past-times include spending time with family and friends, fishing with grandkids or whomever could go, woodworking, watching old westerns, the Rockies and the Broncos.
A Celebration of Johnny’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the Eagles Club, 1050 South 21st Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the “Johnny the Barber Memorial Fund”. These contributions will be used by the family at a later date to support local charities.