Friends, Fans and Family Pay Last Respects to John Denver

John Denver’s voice filled a church here Friday as family, friends and fans said farewell to the singer whose music helped a generation forge a romance with the rugged Rocky Mountains.

Taped recordings of four of his songs were played during the funeral service at Faith Presbyterian Church, attended by about 2,000 people in this Denver suburb.

Many in the audience wept when the first song, “On the Wings of a Dream,” was played, especially when people heard its first line: “Yesterday I had a dream about dying.”

Denver, 53, was killed Oct. 12 when his experimental light plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean off Monterey.

The church was so crowded that several hundred people had to listen to the service outside on a public address system.

Denver’s longtime manager Hal Thau said the late singer “used his celebrity well,” referring to the many causes that Denver supported, especially the environment and the fight against hunger.