John (née Jochen) Alfred Bartelt died on Friday night, June 30, 2023, at home with his family at his side. He was 81 years old. 

John had an adventurous spirit, driving far and wide in search of the photographic subjects that filled his soul. He considered himself a “Southern-Colorado freelance photographer”, and his enthusiasm for birds, flowers, roller derby, hot rods, hot air balloons, and incredible landscapes was unrivaled. The more color the better! Whether it was his own backyard, nearby Lake Pueblo State Park with his “best friend and companion” (his dog, Jake), Monument Valley on a road trip with his family, or the glorious Rocky Mountains, his photos shared his adoration for the wild beauty in the world. His photos always had a back story. 

John was born in Berlin during World War II. The apartment building where he lived was destroyed in a bombing, and rebuilt under the direction of his father, Alfred, himself a carpenter and builder. His mother, Johanna, was from generations of bakers in northern Germany (previously Pomerania, now Poland). The family came to America by boat in the 1950s, building a small house with a big back yard surrounded by hydrangea on Long Island, New York. John was a star soccer player as a child and loved art. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a young adult to pursue an education at Milwaukee School of Engineering. There he met his first wife and began working in insurance adjusting, and having two kids in the process. He lived and worked all over Wisconsin, building many happy memories of sailing, kayaking, and camping. He met his 2nd wife and adventure partner while at work at CUNA Mutual. When their son was a young child, they moved to Colorado where John took over his own claims adjusting company and thrived for many years, ultimately landing in Pueblo County near his beloved Sangre de Cristo mountains. He sold his insurance business and happily pursued his amateur photography dream. On his 79th birthday, he achieved the goal of seeing his first moose while hiking on Cement Mountain, near Crested Butte, Colorado.

When he died, he was still avidly anticipating his next big road trip. His office was über-organized, with a stack of books detailing Colorado adventure options on the shelf. He will be remembered for his unbridled enthusiasm (“Wow!”), his ardent love of the natural world, his affection for animals, his adventurous spirit, his appreciation for sailing, his beautiful handwriting, his enjoyment of soccer, his charming smile, his booming laugh, and his exquisite organizational skills. 

John is survived by his wife, Marsha, and their son, Erich (Shannon Johnson); his two daughters, Stephanie (Matt Guillory) and Jessica; his granddaughters, Jenna and Jada Davis; and his great granddaughter, Jayla McIntosh. He would have appreciated your support for our state and national parks, as he frequented them as often as possible, and Audubon. We would be grateful if you considered a donation in his memory!