Leslie W. Jochens

Leslie W. Jochens, 91, passed away Sunday, May 18th, 2014. He was born October 31st, 1922 in Abbott, Colorado, the son of the late Henry and Margaret Michels Jochens. Les’s family moved several times in his early years and eventually settled in the Fairbury area. He graduated from Fairbury High School and worked in the area until he joined the U. S. Army in 1942. He served as a bombardier navigator in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he entered the University of Nebraska in January 1946, and graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering in 1949.

Les met his wife, Harriet, while they were students at Fairbury High School. They were married in 1943, attended the University of Nebraska together and eventually moved to Colorado after graduating. A registered Professional Engineer, Les won numerous awards throughout his career (2006 Irrigation Association Industry Achievement Award; The Heerman Sprinkler Irrigation Award – 2007; Biological Systems Engineering Department Hall of Fame, University of Nebraska – 2007). Les began his career as a pump expert for a Colorado company. He co-owned Rocky Mountain Irrigation in Denver, and worked 17 years for Rain Bird Corporation. In 1975, he established Western Irrigation Supply House Inc. (WISH) which became the premier irrigation supply center specializing exclusively in the engineering design and wholesale distribution of quality irrigation equipment. WISH has expanded over the years to nine locations in Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Idaho, Florida, Washington and Mississippi. A man of integrity, Les was a true leader, educator, and friend.

Les loved nature and animals, especially birds. He was a docent for The Bird World at the Denver Zoo and sponsored a Pygmy King Fisher for many years. He took several educational trips with his family exploring the Amazon, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Barbados and Norway. He was an avid fly fisherman and took many backpacking trips with family and friends. He truly had an amazing life and he leaves his family, friends, and business associates with so many good memories. He will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughter, Ann (husband Hans Juvkam-Wold); son, Bob (wife Carol); grandchildren, Greta Cleary (husband David), Per (wife Lauren Yates), Eric Jochens, Mark Jochens; and great grandchildren, Ann Cleary, Laura Cleary, and Nikolai Juvkam-Wold.

Donations may be made In memory of Les Jochens at The Denver Zoo. To donate online: https://support.denverzoo.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=378. Be sure to select “Memorial Fund” under “Designation” and at the bottom of the page include “Leslie Jochens” name under “Person to be Memorialized.” Checks can be mailed to the following address with “In memory of Leslie Jochens” on the note line: Denver Zoological Foundation, Development Department, 2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205.

A private family burial service was held. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury was in charge of the arrangements.