On June 29, 2026, John Cedric Campbell Mathewson passed away peacefully at the HopeWest Care Center in Grand Junction, to be reunited with Joan, his loving wife of 60 years who passed away almost 10 years ago. He will be greatly missed by his sons John and Eric and their families, Darlene Leinberger, his caregiver, as well as his many friends around the world.

John was born on July 18, 1930, in Pasadena, California. After a ski trip to Aspen in 1949, John decided that he belonged in Colorado and moved to Golden to attend the Colorado School of Mines. He spent the Korean War at Camp Hale, near Leadville, as a Platoon Leader teaching skiing and mountain warfare. Shortly before leaving the Army John met his future wife, Joan. It was love at first sight and they were married in La Jolla, California on May 21, 1956.

John spent the next 34 years working in oil exploration throughout Africa and the Middle East. Finally moving back to the USA in 1988, they built the Terror Creek Winery and Vineyard on Garvin Mesa, just outside Paonia, CO. Terror Creek was the first winery in the North Fork Valley, an area that is now known to produce some of the finest wines in Colorado.

For the past few years John lived in a cottage at Hilltop in Grand Junction, enjoyed traveling to visit his sons, and especially enjoyed his twice weekly drive up to the Grand Mesa Lodge for lunch with his caregiver Darlene.

John is survived by his two sons and their wives, John and Mary Ellen Mathewson of New London, NH and Eric and Samantha Mathewson of Charlotte, NC; as well as six grandchildren, Ian, Libby, James, Megan, Zachary and Melissa; and two great-grandchildren, Jude and Peyton. God bless John, he lived a good and righteous life.

Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to HopeWest Care Center, 3090 N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506 or at Donate - HopeWest.