Funeral Service – Friday – February 8, 2013 – 11:00 a.m. – First Southern Baptist Church – Yuma, Colorado

Interment - Yuma Cemetery – Yuma, Colorado

Memorials To - The Zack Newbury Memorial Fund

On December 25, 1936, Irene was united in marriage to Louie H. Ernst at the St. John’s Lutheran Parsonage.  They were constant companions, spending many years caring for the land they loved so much.   

Preceding Irene into Eternal Life were her parents; brother, Lloyd; sister, Ella Drury; nephew, Leland Mathies; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Minnie Ernst; and on December 7, 1987, her loving and devoted husband of 51 years, Louie.  Irene was a special aunt to many.  She touched the heart of many people with her kindness.  Her Bible and “The Lutheran Hymnal” were very dear to her. 

Irene leaves behind a brother-in-law, John Ernst and a sister-in-law, Betty VanHorn along with nieces, nephews cousins and their families, friends and neighbors. 

Irene request that the following be read:  No more tears, just smile when you think of Louie and me.  We have all the memories and love with us and when your time, too, is at hand, Louie and I will greet you at our Father’s Eternal Celebration—Aunt Irene

The funeral service was held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at the Baucke Funeral Chapel at 1:00 p.m. in Yuma, Colorado with Pastor Terry Buethe officiating.  Interment will follow at the Yuma Cemetery.  Baucke Funeral Home directed the service. 

           Jack was the fourth child of James Franklin and Maude Francis (Barker) Wakefield.  He has 2 brothers, Earl (Bud) and Jim, also 5 sisters, Ella, Mary, Stella, Mona and Iona.  The family lived in a sod house that had  two rooms on the ground floor and one big room upstairs that was the  bedroom for all the children.  On occasion a snake would visit the family  in the sod house too.

           Jack received his 8 yrs of education at the Champion Valley country school that was close to his home.  After his schooling was finished he farmed with his dad. 

            Jack became acquainted with Geneva Helen Blacker at an ice-skating party.  They went steady for 3yrs and were married July 24, 1935.  They had a great life together for 73 yrs; their favorite thing to do was to dance!  Geneva passed away in July 2008.  Four children were born to this union:  Wynona Lee, Dan Kent, Gregory Arthur, and Scott Neil.

            Jack and Geneva were involved with farming and ranching most of their married life.  The farming was done with a team of horses until 1942 when Jack bought his first tractor, a Massey Harris 101.  He was very proud of his horses, but also of his new tractor.  Jack liked to sing and the family knew when he was coming home from the field because they could hear him singing over the tractor noise.

            Jack and Geneva retired and moved into Yuma in 1975.  They enjoyed several winters in Arizona and one winter in California.  The highlight of their life was a trip with a tour group to Australia and New Zealand, and the reunions over the years with the friends they made on the tour. 

            Jack was proceeded in death by his loving wife, Geneva, 2 sons Dan Kent and Scott Neil, his parents Frank and Maude Wakefield and his parents-in-law Pete and Margaret Blacker, all of his brothers and sisters, brother-in-law Ross Blacker, brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Vera Rockwell. 

            Surviving Jack is daughter Wynona and husband Dick Stallings, daughter-in-law Frances Wakefield,  son Greg and wife Virginia Wakefield, 14 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren sister-in-laws Elva and Lugie Wakefield and other relatives and friends.

            Services were held November 5, 2012, 10:00 a.m.  at the Presbyterian Church in Yuma.  The service was officiated by Pastor Marcia Muir.  Burial was at the Eckley Cemetery beside his wife Geneva. 

His father, Earle, started milking a few cows the benefit of his own family, and soon they were providing milk to neighbors. Eventually, the Harper Dairy was  established and Max and Howard helped deliver milk to the doorsteps around Yuma. Max graduated from Yuma Union High School with the class of 1944.   Max Harper and Phyllis Jean Davis were married on February 9, 1945, just about the time of Max’s induction into the United States Army. He served in the 7^th  Infantry Division in the Philippines, Japan, and Korea.

After Max returned from military service, he went back to work on the Harper Dairy, eventually becoming a partner with his father Earle and brothers Howard and Jim. Together, they expanded the dairy operation to include a large farming operation growing wheat, corn, sugar beets, soybeans, alfalfa, and other crops. Max was very active in his community, through the Lions Club, the Yuma County Fair Board and the Yuma School Board. For many years, he refereed high school football and basketball games in northeast Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. In agricultural ventures, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Sugar Beet Growers Association, Mountain States Dairymen Association, and Dairy Farmers of America. He was a candidate for political office in 1990, and was appointed by Governor Roy Romer to the Colorado Agricultural Commission, where he served for twelve years.

When Max retired from farming, he and Phyllis purchased a second home in Sun City West, Arizona, where they spent winters and from which Max continued to travel to DFA board meetings. He became an avid golfer after his retirement, and he developed lasting friendships in Arizona with other sunbirds and many Arizona friends. During the summers, he continued to golf and play cards with his circle of friends in Yuma.

Max continued to be interested and involved in politics and in 2007, he attended the Democratic Party’s State Convention and Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Invesco Field.

In August 2010, Max and Phyllis, along with other Harper family members, accepted a Centennial Farms Award at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colorado, capping off a lifetime spent in farming with his brothers, and his children.

Along with wife Phyllis and son Joe’s family, Max was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church.

Max was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, parents Earle and Betheen Harper, his mother-in-law Rowena Davis, his brother Howard Harper, niece DeeDee Harper, sons-in-law Calvin Houston and Glen Gordon, brother-in-law Jack Davis, four infant daughters, and many close relatives in the Harper, Flack, Lane and Morris families. Along the way, Max lost many close friends, whom he continued to miss.

Max is survived by his brother Jim and wife Dianne Harper; sister-in-law Maxine Harper; his daughters, Lynda and Sallie Harper; son Joe and wife Barbara Harper; grandchildren Nathan Houston, Naomi Gordon, Seth Park-Beach and wife Sung, Jeremy Beach, Sarah Wynn and husband Robert, Chelsea Wiebers and husband Mark, and Todd and Gabe Harper; great-grandchildren Ethan and Noah Houston, Max Park-Beach, Trinity and Lily Wynn; his nieces and nephews who were very special to him, and a host of wonderful friends.

Max died after a brief illness on November 3, 2012 in Yuma, Colorado, at the age of eighty-six.

Annie was one of 10 children born to Joseph Walter and Ollie.  (Four siblings died in infancy.) When Annie was about two years old her family relocated to Wheatland, WY. In 1919, Annie’s family moved to Holyoke after experiencing the loss of all their cattle in a Wyoming blizzard. The Holyoke community would remain her home for the rest of her life. Annie received her education through the 8th grade at the Amitie School southeast of Holyoke.  When Annie was 16 years old she married Albert John Bahler on May 8, 1933. This union was blessed with three sons, Robert (Bob), William (Bill) and Jack and 77 ½  years of married life together. 

Annie’s life revolved around the many aspects of the family farm which included raising Registered Herefords and operating the Bahler Dairy. In addition to milking cows twice a day, the Bahlers raised a variety of crops. Chickens, cats and peacocks were also raised on their farm. Annie enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens. She canned and froze much of the produce she raised. She was well known for her pickles … especially her dill and red hot cinnamon pickles.  Annie loved working on crafts and this passion remained with her until her death. She will be remembered for Christmas trees made out of tumble weeds, Christmas wreathes made out of six pack pop rings, egg carton lamps, napkin rings, holiday placemats and her now famous trash cans. For many years she baked and decorated wedding and special occasion cakes. She retired from cake decorating after completing her three granddaughters wedding cakes.

During Annie and Albert’s years together they suffered through the loss of their three sons. In December, 1986 their youngest son Jack passed away from Cancer. Their second son, Bill was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 3. He lived and worked on the family farm until complications of the disease took his life in December, 2004. Bob, the oldest son passed away in December, 2008 following a 4-year battle with leukemia.

Despite their tremendous loss, Albert and Annie were blessed with their daughter-in-law, 3 granddaughters, 8 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren along with their siblings, nieces, nephews and friends who made their life complete. Although Annie’s surviving siblings lived many miles apart at the time of her death, Annie cherished her relationship with them and the many hours they spent talking on the phone.

Annie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke, CO until her death. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Throughout the years Annie was an active member in the Pleasant Valley Ladies Club, Amitie Club and the Eureka Club.

Annie is survived by her daughter in law, Vivian Bahler, (Holyoke, CO); three granddaughters, Patty Kamery and husband Doug (Haxtun, CO); Charlene Cortez and husband Ian (Colorado Springs, CO); and Marlene walker and husband Clarence (Sterling, CO); eight great grandchildren, Jennifer Businger and husband Nathan; Miranda Schnabel and husband Kyle; Michael Deslauriers and wife Halie; Jeremy Deslauriers; Jordan Deslauriers; Hayden Cortez; Vanessa Cortez and Logan Walker: two great great grandchildren, Rylee Ann Businger and Seth Robert Schnabel; two sister , Edna Mae Stanley (Gravois Mills, MO); and Mary Lou Holtman (Ivans, UT); brother  Max Jinkens and sister-in-law Joyce (Salina, KS); sister- in- law Ida Mae Skipworth, (Holyoke, CO) and several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Annie is preceded in death by her four infant siblings; her parents, brothers Sam Jinkens and Walter Jr. Jinkens; husband Albert and sons, Bob, Bill and Jack.

Ruby was the daughter of Chester A. and Edith Morrison Overmiller.  In 1912 Ruby’s parents along with her twin sister, Ruth and her two older sisters, Vera and Mildred moved to Smith Center Kansas, where her brother Wyvern was born.  Ruby attended School in Thornburg, Kansas and graduated from Smith Center High School.  At the age of 16 Ruby lost her twin sister Ruth to appendicitis.  On May 31, 1930 Ruby and Ervin D. Hoyt were married in Longmont, Colorado.  To this union Ruby and Erv welcome three children;  Roylynn Ruth, Gary Keith (who died at birth), and Karen Kay.   Erv’s jobs kept the family on the move; they lived in Smith Center Kansas, Longmont, Julesburg, Brush, Ft. Morgan, and Burlington Colorado, Raton and Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Ruby’s family often joked that Erv and Ruby, “were on the road again”.  At the end of World War II, in 1945, their family moved to Yuma, Colorado where they joined her parents and Mildred and Roy Dedrick in the grocery business.   In 1948 they became sole owners and continued to operate Hoyt’s Food Market until 1956 when Erv’s arthritis became too bad to continue.  Ruby worked in her sister Vera’s clothing store and at Montgomery Ward, as a bookkeeper; while Erv started Hoyt’s Insurance Agency.  They lived on Cedar Ave and later at the High Plains Manor until Ruby moved to Yuma Life Care Center in 1992 where she lived the remainder of her life.  During her twenty years at the Yuma Life Care Center Ruby always had at least one of her granddaughters working there and caring for her.

Ruby is preceeded in death by parents, Chester and Edith Overmiller; husband , Ervin Hoyt; daughter, Roylynn Baucke and son-in-law Harlan Baucke; son, Gary Hoyt; sisters, Ruth Overmiller, Vera Chance and Mildred Dedrick Morris, and brother, Wyvern Overmiller.  She is survived by daughter, Karen and husband Richard Lincoln of Dolores, Colorado; grandchildren, Marcia and Randy Glanz, Gary and Patty Baucke, Ann and Don Kelley, Jacque and Pat Armagost, Larry and Laurie Baucke, Susan and Charlee Stallings, Lisa Springer and friend,  Dave Sornborger, Heidi and Eddy Mac Taylor, and 32 great grandchildren and 20 great great grandchildren.

 Funeral services were held on Saturday October 20, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church in Yuma, Colorado with Pastor Marcia Muir officiating.  Interment followed at the Yuma Cemetery. Arrangements made by Baucke Funeral Home.

Thelma grew up in Penrose and graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1935.  Following graduation she enrolled in Colorado State College of Education (now known as University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado.  However, prior to graduation she obtained her State Teaching Certificate and accepted a teaching position at the Lone Star School in northern Yuma County.  During her entire teaching career she continued to take courses toward the completion of her degree and graduated from Colorado State College (UNC) in 1969 in the same class as her son, Jack. 

During her tenure at the Lone Star School she met Howard Crowley, a native of Yuma.  They dated for a short time, but Howard had made plans to move to southern California seeking employment.  He left as planned, for San Diego in 1941 and obtained a job with Solar Aircraft as an airplane welder.  With his financial future more secure Howard proposed to Thelma, still living in Yuma, she accepted and left for California.  They were married on December 25, 1941 in Yuma, Arizona.

In the years immediately following their marriage until the end of World War II, Howard and Thelma worked for Solar.  Their home in San Diego served as a temporary haven for many of their friends and family who found themselves in Southern California at the close of the war. 

In 1946, Howard and Thelma returned to Yuma.  Thelma continued her teaching career with the Yuma School System as an elementary teacher while Howard began working for Farmer’s Implement. 

Thelma’s teaching career spanned over forty years; most of which was devoted to fifth grade students.  She retired in 1983.  Following her retirement she continued to enjoy her life in Yuma.  She remained active in many social and service organizations and truly enjoyed times catching up with her former students, friends and family, playing bridge and golf along with traveling with Howard.

 Thelma was a devoted Yumaite.  She believed the quality of life afforded small town residents more than made up for the distance to major city amenities.  She truly loved her students, friends and family along with the town that made it all possible. 

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Howard brothers, Cecil and Gilbert and sister, Edith. 
She is survived by her son, Jack of Greeley, Colorado; grandsons, Grant Crowley and wife, Victoria of Grand Junction, Colorado and Charles Crowley of Greeley, Colorado; sister-in-law, Ruby Sandefur of Penrose, Colorado; nieces, JoAnn Aughenbaugh of Denver, Colorado; Virginia Harrison of Center, Colorado; Hilda Abbott of Big Bear City, California and nephew, John Sandefur of Penrose, Colorado along with extended family and friends.   

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Yuma, Colorado with Pastor Marcia Muir officiating.  Interment followed at the Yuma Cemetery in Yuma, Colorado.  Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.

Rose was born April 5th, 1927 to George Washington Nichols and Helen Genevieve Froom, in Montrose, Colorado.  She Married Forest Thomas McWilliamsm, of Ault, Colorado on July 11, 1948, her husband of 64 years.  She supported her husband in his work and reserve duty and raising four children.

Rose is survived by her husband, Forest Thomas McWilliams; a sister, Lois Jean Smith of Moses Lake, WA; a brother, Roy Earl Nichols of Yuma, AZ; four children; Barry Kent Williams of Everett, WA, William James McWilliams of Madison, WI, Forest Thomas McWilliams, Jr. and Tina Rae Thompson of Holyoke, CO; thirteen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Grant Nichols.

Mabel was born to Enoch and Mary (Hackett) Jackson on March 5th, 1930 in Eckley, Colorado.  She married Orval Denbo, on June 6th in 1948, they farmed and raised four children on Orval’s folks place south east of Holyoke, Colorado.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Enoch (Jack) and John; her sisters, Ellen, May and Mary Ellen.  Her husband Orval and her oldest daughter Sharon.

She is survived by her brother Merel Jackson and wife, Betty; her sister, Betty Turley; her son-in-law, Ray Race and friend and companion Audrey Rutan; son, Gary Denbo and wife, Lynn; her son, Dan Denbo and wife, Linda and her daughter, Diana and son-in-law Cody Craven.  She is also survived by lots of grandchildren, lots and lots of great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, along with nephews, nieces, friends and neighbors more numerous than this poor author can name.

Jack married Marge Lee from Montrose in 1958 and lived in Yuma.  They had three daughters – Brenda, Susan and Michele.  While in Yuma, Jack started working for Elmer Baucke’s electrical business.

Jack and Marge moved their family to Sterling in 1964.  Jack continued to work for an electrical business until 1969 – when he started his own electrical contracting business, Anderson Electric Construction.  While in Sterling, he continued to run cattle and farm with his dad and brother on the Yuma farm.  During that era, he also learned to fly and loved taking trips in his Cessna. 

He semi-retired from electrical contracting in 1994, when he and Marge returned to Yuma to continue in the cattle and agriculture business.  He continued to stay busy on the ranch and loved running after his grandkids activities until his death.

Jack is survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Marjorie, his daughters Brenda Frank of Greeley, Susan Kruse and husband Dan of Fort Collins, and Michele Staggs and husband Scott of Yuma; brother Larry Anderson & Karen of Yuma; Grandchildren Shannon Allard and husband Dave of Fort Collins, Courtney Whalen and husband Dan of Fort Collins, Tanner Frank of Greeley, Dusty Kruse of Eaton, Krista Kruse of Fort Collins, Jackie and Tommy Staggs of Yuma; Great Grandchildren Rowan Whalen and Davey Allard of Fort Collins.  Brother-in-law Dale Stoops and Modesta of Sterling, Brother-in-law Brice Lee and wife Phyllis of Durango, Sister-in-law Harriette Walter and husband Dave of Wray, and Brother-in-law Jim Lee and wife Renee of Montrose.  He also leaves many treasured nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Service was held on Friday, August 3, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at New Life Fellowship in Eckley, Colorado with David Stoops officiating.  Interment followed at the Yuma Cemetery in Yuma, Colorado.  Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.