obituaries

Jan 6, 2026

David John "Dave" Temple, 63, passed away on January 6, 2026, in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Born on September 23, 1962, in the same close-knit community of Fort Morgan, Dave spent his life rooted in the place he called home.

Dave was known for his unwavering work ethic and dedication to serving others. He worked as a butcher...

Jan 3, 2026

Barbara Ann Schippert, 83, a resident of Snyder, Colorado, passed away January 3, 2026, at UCHealth Greeley, Colorado.

​Born in Neodesha, Kansas, to Lewis Gentry and Mary Henricks-Gentry, Barbara was the eldest of seven siblings. On June 24, 1961, she married the love of her life, James William Schippert, with whom she built a life centered on...

Jan 3, 2026

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robert Leroy Kula, much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, who left this world peacefully at his home in Fort Morgan, Colorado, on January 3, 2026.

Born on November 13, 1929, in Fort Morgan, Colorado, Robert was the son of Joseph Kula and Sylva (Biddle) Kula. He was preceded...

Dec 28, 2025

Israel T. Ocanas 75, of Fort Morgan Co. passed away peacefully on Sunday Dec. 28th, 2025 at home in Sun City West with family. He was born August 2nd, 1950 in Nuevo León, Teran, Mexico to the late Elias and Juana (Tovar) Ocanas.

Israel graduated from FMHS in 1969 and received his associates degree from UNC in...

Dec 25, 2025

Melvin Gene Schrum, 76, of Fort Morgan, Colorado passed away peacefully on December 25, 2025, after a short battle with cancer.

Melvin was a proud son, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose life was defined by hard work, generosity, and love for his family. He spent many years as a skilled mechanic before moving on to a career...

Dec 24, 2025

Irene (Hollinger) Hastings Vancil, 94, passed away on December 24, 2025, at the home of her daughter in Lamar, Missouri, surrounded by her loving family. Born on November 25, 1931, in Brush, Colorado, to Elmer and Grace Hollinger, Irene lived a long and meaningful life defined by devotion, resilience, and deep love for her family.

In 1949,...

Dec 23, 2025

Margaret A. Burham passed away on December 23, 2026, in Brush, Colorado. She was born on November 7, 1941, in Texas to Carl and Ulah Swanson.

In June 1961, Margaret married Harry F. Burham Sr., and together they raised three children. Throughout her life, Margaret was truly a jack of all trades—working as a waitress, truck driver,...

Dec 22, 2025

He never trusted the fastest route.

If there was a back road, he took it. If there was no plan, he went anyway. His life wasn't measured by milestones so much as by detours…unmarked roads, spontaneous turns, and places most people only talked about going "someday."

He taught us, without ever meaning to, that plans...

Dec 21, 2025

Bill Gramlich left this earthly life on December 21, 2025. Bill didn't just live life; he drove it—usually at high speeds and often on two wheels.

While born in Omaha in 1936, Bill was a Fremont man. He moved there after a childhood stint in a one-room schoolhouse and spent his formative years running with a close-knit...

Dec 20, 2025

Kathleen Ann Ely passed the morning of December 20, 2025. She was born May 11, 1937 in Stockville, Nebraska. She was the second of nine children born to Vera and Jeptha Claflin. When she was still very young, they moved to Woodrow, Colorado where she spent most of her childhood. Her days were spent helping her dad on the...

Dec 20, 2025

Eva Mae Vanderheiden, 93, passed away on Saturday, December 20th at Valley View Villa in Fort Morgan.

Eva Mae Vanderheiden was a dedicated and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, neighbor, and friend. She took living a meaningful life seriously. She loved being a wife and mother and shared many important life lessons, values and skills with...

Dec 19, 2025

A. Evelyn King, age 88, lifelong member of the Brush community died peacefully on December 19, 2025, at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush.

After graduating from Brush High School, Evelyn worked at Leach Jewelry and later at Brush Motor Sales (Andersen Chevrolet). She married the love of her life, Gary L. King in 1957, and...

Dec 16, 2025

June Darlene Teter Crispin was born on June 13, 1933, south of Brush on her mother's homestead to Henry Rufus Teter and Nettie Geneva Hunt Teter.  She lived south of Brush with her family until she was 13 years old, when they moved to Brush.  She went to school in Brush until her senior year when she thought it...

Dec 16, 2025

Ardelle Jean Bruce, age 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on December 16, 2025, in Pine, Colorado.

Ardelle was born on August 10, 1934, in Longmont, Colorado, and later moved to the Brush area. After graduating from high school, she worked for the telephone company in Estes Park, Colorado, and later at East Morgan County...

Dec 14, 2025

Oliver "Dean" Metzler was born on May 14th, 1949. He was the first of three sons to Ben and Sue Metzler of Yuma. He was a football and track star for the Indians before marrying and have three kids, Ben, Becky and Brenton.  His second marriage to his soulmate Linda brought him three more children April, Brian and Spike....

Dec 2, 2025

Cleo Joan Pierce of Snyder, Colorado, was born October 28, 1938, to Russell and Treasa Dobner. She grew up in Morgan County, graduated from Brush High School in 1956, and married Vernon "Jack" Pierce a few months later on September 2, 1956. Over the years, she worked in hospitality at several Morgan County restaurants and spent 22 years working...

Nov 28, 2025

Marilyn Elaine Ackley was born on September 29, 1931 at the family home in Snyder Colorado to proud parents Hazel and William Ackley.    Marilyn's early childhood was spent in Snyder, where she attended school through her sophomore year.   Her family moved into their new family home that her father built in Brush when she was 16.   She attended Brush...

Nov 27, 2025

James Lowell Spears was born in Eaton, Ohio on October 24, 1936, to Margaret Elnora Ridenour and George Kanada Spears.  James often talked about his childhood in Ohio and Indiana.  He shared stories of his maternal grandparents with whom he lived for a few years.  While in high school, Jim worked at a bowling alley, setting pins.  After he...

Nov 26, 2025

Robert Lee (Bob) Keenan, 89, died on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in St. Elizabeth Common Spirit Hospital, Fort Morgan, from complications from a fall.

He was born at home on August 11, 1936, in the tiny town of Fonda, Iowa, the last of five children. His parents were Norine (Regan) and William Keenan. His mother told him...

Nov 25, 2025

Robert "David" Howard passed peacefully at the age of 72 at Seven Lakes Memory Care in Loveland, Colorado, on November 25, 2025. He was born on September 11, 1953, in Pampa, Texas. David is survived by his wife, Patricia Lois "Patsy" (Brownlow) Howard of 42 years; his children Robert James Howard, Mendee Keren (Howard) Wacker (husband Jared Wacker) and...