Johnny Edward Gelski, to many of us simply known as John, passed away on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. His last wishes to have his and wife Linda’s ashes laid to rest at the Holbrook Cemetery will be honored at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25. He was born June 5, 1954, and was a lifelong resident of Holbrook. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1973 and attended Western Texas College, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in 1977. John had great respect for the uniform and had more than 22 years combined service in the Army and National Reserves, during which he served in Desert Storm. While in civilian life he continued to wear the uniform as a detention officer for the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Lucille (Jensen) Gelski; his brothers, Joe and Dewayne; John’s wife, Linda (King) Gelski; and his first wife, Diana Gelski, who died in 1987. John was the last of his family, but is survived by his newer family, William (Diana) King of Joseph City, Brinda (Shawn) McCleery of Oregon and Peggy (Troy) Soza of California; stepchildren Cathy Jayne Martinez of Texas, Logan, Chaz and Derek Hatcher of Oregon, and Diana’s children, Raymond & Patricia. Also surviving are John’s vast number of friends, neighbors and comrades. John will be greatly missed and those who knew him will also miss his saying, “Did you know?”
