John Harlan Minsch, age 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Golden, Colorado on April 3, 2022, with family by his side. He was born August 5, 1937, to Harlan H. and Thelma (Knipp) Minsch. John grew up in and around Westmoreland, Kansas, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He graduated from Westmoreland High School with the class of 1955 and attended Kansas State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1960. John met his wife Supatra Tha Chieng Thong in Bangkok, Thailand. They married in 1967 and lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, then moving to Tucson, Arizona before residing in Golden since 1976.
John began his career as a geophysicist with the Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1961. He was part of the installation team, installing the many seismic stations throughout the world. John spent some years at the Honolulu Observatory as part of the launching the Tsunami Warning System. He later transferred to the Tucson Observatory Seismic and Geomagnetic Group, where he served as Chief of the Observatory until moving to the USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden, Colorado in 1976 as the Lead Seismic Analyst. He worked for 44 years with the U.S. Department of Interior U.S. Geological Survey before retiring in 2004.
John was an avid golfer and member of Concordia Lutheran Church. He would travel back to Kansas to the family farm where he enjoyed spending time with fellow farmers at harvest. He is survived by his wife, Supatra, daughter, Alisa and her husband Peter Mumola of Norwalk, Connecticut, grandchildren Peter John and Malia. He is also survived by his sister Jean Ann Minsch of Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents. He was a great friend to many and a servant of the Lord.
Graveside inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 3, 2022, at St. Luke Lutheran South Cemetery in rural Onaga, Kansas. The family will greet friends on Thursday, June 2, 2022, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in John’s memory may be given to your choice:
Concordia Lutheran Church, 13371 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 129 Railroad St, Wheaton, KS 66521
TRU Community Care Hospice, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026