John R. Stulp, Jr.

John R. Stulp, Jr.

John Revelle Stulp, Jr., a devoted husband, father, grandfather, farmer, and public

servant, passed away peacefully in Lamar, Colorado, surrounded by his wife and five

children, on Monday July 7, 2025.

John was born on December 27, 1948, in Yuma, Colorado, to John and Nina (Dunafon)

Stulp Sr., during a fierce snowstorm. For safety, he and his mother stayed at his

grandparents’ home until the storm passed and power was restored at the farm, a

beginning that set the tone for a life grounded in faith, family, and resilience. As a young

boy, he began attending a one-room schoolhouse before he was even old enough for

school, tagging along with his aunt, just four years older. He made his debut in the

school’s Christmas pageant, where once the curtain drew, he was instantly paralyzed by

stage fright, unable to say his lines. His aunt whispered each line to him from behind the

curtain, helping him finish the performance. After years in public office and hundreds of

speeches, John spoke fondly of that moment and his earliest remembrance of

encouragement for public speaking.

John, the oldest of five siblings, began working on the farm in Yuma at a young age

along with his dad instilling an early love of agriculture. During elementary school, John

and his siblings spent two years in Greeley while his mother, Nina, pursued her college

degree. Weekends were spent back on the farm in Yuma where he continued to work

alongside his father raising corn, hogs, and cattle. There was even a rescued bob-white

quail named Robert, another part of the pet portion of the family, so to speak along with

the many dogs, cats, chickens, geese, a donkey and even peacocks.

His enthusiasm for investing in farm improvements also began at this young age when

he used his 4-H prize money to pour a cement pad for his hog operation. John

continued to find his passion in pursuits related to farm life, rising to become State

President of 4-H his senior year of high school. He was also recognized for outstanding

leadership and record keeping that awarded him trips to both Chicago and Washington

DC. The time he won a belt buckle that stated in bold letters, “Grand Champion Fat

Hog”. he proudly attached that to his belt and wore it until someone pointed at it and

said, “Oh, so you’re a grand champion fat hog!” The belt buckle quickly became a

trophy that didn’t leave his room very often.

After John graduated Yuma High School in 1966, he attended Colorado State University

and roomed in Aylesworth Hall, where he met the love of his life, Jane. She worked in

the cafeteria, and somehow, he charmed her into giving him two scoops of ice cream

when only one was allowed.

At CSU John became President of the Farm House fraternity, but he stepped down his

senior year to marry Jane on December 22, 1969, in the First Baptist Church in Lamar.

The same church where he was later baptized over 50 years ago and has since served

on various boards and as a Deacon and Deacon Chair numerous times, providing

crucial guidance and direction to a church that he deeply loved.

Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree, John pursued veterinary school. Jane supported

the young couple by teaching school in Windsor, Colorado. One month after graduating,

they welcomed their first son, John Stulp III. John then moved his young family to Las

Cruces, New Mexico where he joined Mesilla Veterinary Clinic as a new doctor.

When Jane’s mother, Mary Ragsdale, was diagnosed with cancer, John and Jane

returned to Lamar to help care for her. Though neither of them knew it at the time,

Lamar would be the place that would become their forever home. John continued his

work as a Veterinarian in Lamar, becoming an Associate Veterinarian for Dr. Elmer Sniff,

same clinic that is present day owned by his youngest son, Jensen. John entertained

with stories about his veterinary medicine work that seemed like they came right out of

the James Herriot series, “All Creatures Great and Small”. When his father-in-law

Howard Ragsdale requested his and Jane’s support and management of the family

farm, John stepped out of his position at the Vet clinic to return to his first love, farming.

In the 1970s, John became an active voice in the American Agriculture Movement,

crisscrossing the nation speaking at dozens of rallies, being interviewed by national

television hosts, and working with numerous agricultural agencies and organizations.

He spent time in Washington, D.C. and met with representatives and senators of both

political parties and with other national leaders, including President Jimmy Carter, to

advocate for farmers. He was privileged to meet four presidents during his time of

advocating for agriculture.

Soon thereafter, he was asked to fill a vacancy for County Commissioner, a position for

which he was reelected and held for many years. As a democrat in a largely republican

county, this early political office was indicative of the entirety of his political career. He

had an ability to cross the aisle, work with people on all sides, and do what was best for

the people he served. As County Commissioner, he took pride in accomplishments that

helped shape the future of Powers County.

His strong agricultural background and ability to work as a bi-partisan leader earned him

appointments from five different Colorado governors. Notably, he declined the role of Agriculture Commissioner twice under Governor Roy Romer. The timing was not right.

John was a family man first. With five young children at home he knew his commitment

to his wife and family with all the school, extracurricular activities, research for special

projects, youth mission trips as well as his attention to the family farming operation was

priority.

When the next Governor, Bill Ritter called, again requesting that he served as

Agriculture Commissioner, the timing was finally right, and John replied with an

enthusiastic “yes.” He loved meeting with and listening to farmers and farm groups all

over the state as well as chairing the Western Association of State Departments where

many states could discuss ag issues. He felt honored to participate in the Tri-National

Accord to put policy in place for US, Canada, and Mexico.

After serving as Ag Commissioner, John accepted a newly created cabinet position

under Governor Hickenlooper to serve as Colorado’s “Water Czar.” John worked

tirelessly traveling across the state to create a unified vision for water usage, and a

means of stewarding one of the state’s most precious resources. Over 30,000

signatures later, John had successfully used his abilities to bring diverse, and often

conflicting, groups of people together in agreement to form the State’s first water plan.

John served additional leadership positions, including being Chairman of the State

Board of Agriculture. In that role he hired Al Yates to be CSU’s President, a fitting

legacy, as all five of his children graduated from CSU during Yates’s tenure. He also

served on the Wildlife Commission, the State Land Board, and several other state

boards, always striving to make Lamar, Prowers County, and Colorado a better place.

Despite all of John’s accomplishments as a public servant, John’s proudest role was as

a husband, father, and grandfather. He and Jane raised five children, all of whom went

on to build loving families of their own. He was a hands-on grandpa to 14 grandchildren,

cherishing every chance to attend games, graduations, and gatherings. He was very

involved in helping his kids with their 4-H and science fair projects. He often encouraged

their experimentation in agriculture, learning not only how things work, but how to do

things better. He helped their fascination with model rockets and launching them, helped

them build a motorbike track with redesigns when it involved moving large amounts of

dirt and even assisted creating a turtle tank for the family’s turtle rescue project.

It will likely come as no surprise that one of John’s favorite family gathering times was

wheat harvest. He cherished the opportunity to give a grandchild a ride on a combine,

and later coach the grandkids as they operated their own. He loved completing a long

full day’s work and arriving back to a lively full house at the farm. This year’s harvest

was no different. John participated in the first days of harvest and saw some of the best

wheat cut right in front of his house which he had planted last fall.

John is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Jane Stulp of the family home in Lamar;

children John (Lyndsey) Stulp, III of Fort Collins, CO; Janea (Sunit) Bhalla of Fort

Collins, CO; Jason(Megan) Stulp of Fruit Heights, UT; Jeremy (Christi) Stulp of

Granada, CO; and Jensen(Annessa) Stulp of Lamar, CO; grandchildren Jackson,

Cooper, and Eli Stulp; Brady, Kaitlyn, and Tyson Bhalla; Ethan, Nathan, and Addison

Stulp; Mark and Brynn Stulp; and Zeke, Trenton, and Anneston Stulp.

He is also survived by his sisters, Clydette (Charles) DeGroot of Cabris, France, and

Patty Stulp of Denver, CO; his aunt Leta Smith of Joes, CO; his brothers-in-law Bill

Ragsdale of Santa Clarita, CA; John Ragsdale of Santa Clarita, CA; and David

Ragsdale of Fort Collins, CO; his sisters-in-law Cindy Stulp of Yuma, CO; Renel

Ragsdale of Santa Clarita, CA; Judy (Gary)Barham of Halfway, MO; and Jean Ragsdale

of Bolivar, MO; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of

friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers D.V. Stulp and Tim Stulp, his

parents-in-law Howard and Mary Ragsdale, and his brother-in-law Bob Ragsdale. His

legacy is one of service, integrity, and deep-rooted love for the land, his community, and

most of all, his family.

Senator John Hickenlooper honors John from the floor of the United States Senate:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4176253812606415

Senator Michael Bennett also honors John from the floor of the United States Senate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBlXbC0PGJ0&t=30s

The First Baptist Church livestreamed link to the funeral service is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e812INENhMk&t=1554s

A memorial service was held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 2, 2025,

at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Darren Stroh officiating.