John E. Dillavou passed away November 10, 2023, at the Berkley Care Center in Denver, Colorado. He was born in Des Moise Iowa at the Methodist Hospital on November 18, 1935. John graduated Iowa State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He was an enthusiast of both model and historic trains, Colorado's ghost towns and the history of the Southwest.

After an internship at Yellowstone National Park, he continued to have a career as a City Planner in Pueblo and a Parks Planner Landscape Architect for the City of Denver. His abundant career with the city lasted until his retirement in 2002. His 39 years of civil service was vast but included the construction and maintenance of Cook Park, Fred Thomas Park, Ash Grove, Potenza Park and 4-Mile House. One of his favorite projects was helping design the trail down to the iconic Lower Waterfalls of Yellowstone.

John and Barbara were married in a Methodist church in Malcom, Iowa om June 15, 1959. After Having their first son, Jeff, in 1960 they moved to Pueblo, Colorado the same year and had their second son, Doug, in 1962 before moving to Denver. The Dillavou family joined Grace Methodist Church and, in the 40+ years of attendance, he held multiple positions lovingly.

John and Barbara traveled all over the West with the Ghost Town Club of Colorado. In 1975, he became the first Preservation Chair and served as both Vice President and President at different terms. Coined "The Rain God" for his penitent to bring foul weather on many of his trips. John was applauded by members for his leadership and guidance.

He was passionate about railways both in large and model. He served as the President of the Railroad Club where he got to travel on exclusive trains documenting many of them through his endless slides and pictures. John enjoyed building model railroads, with a large personal layout, multiple traveling modules and a notable fleet of locomotives.

While he preferred a good book or movie on the couch with his wife, their time with the church's youth group inspired a love for both tent camping and backpacking. These trips introduced a passion for the outdoors that was carried on by both of his sons and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Dillavou, his son Douglas Dillavou and his three grandchildren: Jasmine (Ian Dedrickson), Sasha, Phillip (Kristen Bykowski) and his great grandchild Scarlet.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 2:00pm at Grace Methodist Church 4905 E. Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80222.