Hall of Fame

John was born July 9, 1940 in St. Peter, Minnesota. He  attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts as a freshman in high school.  One of his 21 merit badges was in taxidermy. He went to college to become an aerospace engineer (yes he was a rocket scientist). He received his Masters Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Denver and worked toward a PhD in Applied Mechanics at the University of Washington.  He worked for Martin Marietta Aerospace and Boeing Aircraft from 1963-1987. He experimented with taxidermy from 1983-1987 and his first competition was at the 1983 World Taxidermy Competition in Lawrence, Kansas.  In 1987 he decided to change careers and started Lone Wolf Taxidermy in Littleton, Colorado. which he operated until 2011 when he retired after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2009.

John joined the Colorado Taxidermists Association in 1983 and served as President in 1987 & 1988 and again  from 2001-2004 as well as serving as a Board Member. He was a member until his retirement in 2011. He won the Colorado Best All Around Taxidermist Award from 1990-2008, an accomplishment that will probably never be equaled.   He also served on the National Taxidermist Association Board of Directors from 2002-2005 and won the National Best All Around Taxidermist Award an unprecedented 9 times from 1999-2006 and again in 2008. He did not attend the convention in 2007. He won the International Guild of Taxidermy Best International Taxidermist in 1996, North American Fish Champion in 2000, a World title in 2005 as well as numerous Best of Category and Best of Show Awards at state and National competitions. He attained Division of Excellence in all categories at the National Taxidermist Association as well as NTA Judge Certifications in all categories.   He has written numerous articles for National taxidermy magazines and has made several "how-to" videos for Breakthrough Magazine. One of John's most unique mounts was one he created following the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. Called "Forever Columbine" he designed it as a memorial to those who were injured and died. John and Barb had a grandson attending Columbine High School at the time. The mount featured a white ptarmigan perched on an outstretched hand and a glass columbine flower. It was first presented and the National Taxidermists Association competition and was featured in a Breakthrough Magazine article. One publication referred to John as "the man who brings dead animals to life, dominating the taxidermy profession like nobody before him, and possibly the best competitive taxidermist this country has ever seen".