John Teiber

Durango resident of 35 years John Joseph Teiber died Tuesday July 2, 2013, at home at age 70 from a 3-year battle with cancer. John was born to George and Sophie Teiber in rural Crivitz, WI.,on September 5, 1942. He was the youngest of three and the only son. He grew up on a dairy farm, raised by German parents and daycared by his German grandmother. He spoke better German than English until he went to school. His father who was born in Austria/Hungry said, “Now we live in America, so we speak English like Americans.” He graduated from Crivitz High School in 1960. Not wanting to be a dairy farmer he moved to Green Bay, WI, went to a 2 year business school. He worked for Charmin Paper Mill until 1964 when he joined the Army. After basic training he was stationed in Herzo Base, Germany as a Army Security Agent and was a code copier. He made long lasting friends of almost 50 years. After 4 years in the Army Mr. Teiber wanted to ski and spend the winter in Colorado with his sister “Toots” and family. John said he wanted to take a year off and enjoy the mountains but his brother-in-law got him an interview with the original Frontier Airlines. John worked as a station agent in St. Louis, Denver and Durango. He worked the ramp and air freight in Denver and ticket counter at the old airport in Durango. December 20, 1975 he married Therese Mary Fineran in Aurora, CO. They had a daughter Tonya Rae in 1976 and Jeremy John in 1977. They moved to Durango in 1978 when John asked for a transfer with Frontier. “We were both farm kids and didn’t want to raise our kids in the city, so we chose Durango," Therese said. “Frontier was good to us and we enjoyed being able to travel some. Hawaii was our favorite tropical place in the US.” John and Therese opened Treasures By Therese on 30th Street in March 1985. John was the buyer and fixer and delivery guy, a man of all trades. “He could find almost anything anyone needed and sold it at a fair price,” friends said. He had natural talents for fixing anything. He was an avid Broncos fan and loved watching Nascar races. After moving to Junction Creek in 1998, friends and family enjoyed the large yard, the creek and John’s famous bbq and smoked meats. “Our place was very popular for entertaining, “ said Therese. John was a devout Catholic and enjoyed buying and donating items for St. Columba school. He volunteered to help the Knights of Columbus annual yard sale by pricing their items for sale. John is survived by his wife of 37 1/2 yrs Therese, daughter Tonya Fisher and her husband, Andy, of Canon City; son Jeremy Teiber and his wife, Allison, of Erie. Granddaughters, Atalia Rose and Taiya Linne Fisher of Canon City, foster son Joshua Bair of Durango, sisters Dolores Ohlfs of Mountain, WI, and Rose Marie Washburn of Highlands Ranch, CO, numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango. Funeral service will be held at St. Columba Catholic Church, 1830 E 2nd Ave, Durango at 12 pm, Saturday, July 6th, 2013, officiated by Fr. Jim Koenigsfeld. Cremains will be buried next week at the Ft. Logan Veterans Cemetery in Denver followed by a Memorial Service. Condolences may be sent to Therese Teiber and family at 614 Virginia St., Durango, CO 81301.