JOHN LEE "JOHNNY" LOCKMAN

A Celebration of life for John Lee “Johnny” Lockman, 75, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the Wheatland Moose Lodge #1636 located at 608 8th Street in Wheatland, Wyoming. A graveside service will take place at 1:00 P.M. at the Wheatland Cemetery with Pastor Casey Schroeder of the First Christian Church officiating. All are welcome.

Johnny passed away peacefully on Monday, November 8, 2021 at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland, Wyoming after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Johnny was born on Sunday, November 3, 1946 in Wheatland, the son of Walter and Mollie (Eichler) Lockman. He was the fourth child born to the couple, although only two children, Johnny and his brother, Walter “Dick”, survived infancy. Johnny was raised in the Wheatland area by his father, Walter and step mother, Mary. His Aunt Esther Lockman and Uncle Ben Lockman also helped care for Johnny after the untimely passing of his mother. Johnny loved Wheatland and enjoyed farming with his family.

Growing up, Johnny participated in several sports and was an outstanding baseball and basketball player, Captain of the 1965 basketball team. He was also a dedicated student Salutatorian of the Class of 1965 and attended the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and later the University of Massachusetts where he graduated with a Master degree in Medical Technology.  After briefly working abroad in Saudi Arabia and more locally in Denver as a Medical Technologist, Johnny returned to Wheatland and his farming roots. It was then that he met and married Patti Mills. The couple had two sons during the course of their marriage, Travis Lee and Tyler Jackson “T.J.”. Upon his return to Wheatland, Johnny farmed for Rex Goertz and ultimately became head groundskeeper at Wheatland Golf Club where he worked until he retired. 

An avid sports enthusiast, Johnny was a lifelong Boston Red Sox and Denver Broncos fan. Johnny loved watching his teams compete and bonded over sports with his two sons. Johnny was ecstatic to witness the Boston Red Sox break the curse of the great Bambino in 2004 and got to cheer the Red Sox on in their three subsequent World Series titles. The Denver Broncos also surprised him with three Super Bowl wins.

Johnny’s love of the Denver Broncos and Boston Red Sox was surpassed only by his love of being a father. He enjoyed coaching his boys in various sports and watching them compete. A proponent of higher education, Johnny was thrilled that both of his sons not only pursued college degrees, but he was especially proud that they chose his former alma mater, the University of Wyoming.

In his adult years, Johnny was an outstanding slow-pitch softball player helping his teams to numerous tournament wins. He also enjoyed refereeing basketball and playing just about any sport going on in Wheatland. He was an avid cribbage player winning many tournaments and a social poker player earning the nickname from his son, TJ, “Johnny Bluff”. In his later years, Johnny was not typically found sitting on the couch but walking all over the town and watching his son, Travis, carry on his legacy of coaching his daughters in sports.

Johnny was blessed with four grandchildren, MacKenzie “Kenzie” Dawn, Camryn “Camy” Hope, Beckett Reed, and Blair Reagan and loved nothing more than being a grandfather. He loved watching them all grow and relished in all their accomplishments. Johnny shared a special bond with Camy and that bond, along with his belief that there was nothing that she couldn’t accomplish, kept Johnny energized every day.

Johnny is survived by his brother, Dick (Bobbie) Lockman; two sons, Travis Lockman and TJ (Ashley) Lockman; step sister, Sally Bohl; four grandchildren, Kenzie Lockman, Camy Lockman, Beckett Lockman, and Blair Lockman; cousins, Joyce Nolan, Benny (Bonnie) Lockman, and Carol (Jeff) Billing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Molly and Walter Lockman; two siblings, William David and Carol Elaine; his aunt, Esther Lockman; uncle, Ben Lockman; and his step mother, Mary Higdem.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a contribution to Johnny’s favorite charity, the Wyoming Down Syndrome Association, 1150 North Third Street, Laramie, Wyoming 82072 or to the John Lockman Memorial which is set up at First State Bank, P.O. Box 39, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

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