Donley "Don" Aarhus
October 6, 1932 - September 6, 2014
Don Aarhus left peacefully while at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded for days by family and his many loyal friends. He made his home here in Grand Junction for decades and adored Western Colorado.
Don was born in Minnesota to Juliette and Alvin Aarhus. He grew up in Faribault, Minnesota where he graduated from high school and later received his engineering degree from Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Don's two proudest accomplishments were his tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and his long term commitment to our country's Mars Space Project while working with Martin Marietta for over 20 years. Often, Don would be seen sporting his United States Marine cap.
He was also very proud of his Norwegian descent and laughed with others over "How To Speak Minnesotan".
For decades, he enjoyed four wheeling, and making annual trips to Moab, Silverton and Ouray with his many four wheeling friends. For over 30 years, he also drove his motorhome all over the United States, including two trips to Alaska.
During his single years, he went to a high school reunion and reunited with his high school girlfriend, Delaine "Dee" Coons, with whom he happily made four wheeling and RV trips for over a decade until her death. Even when his heart attack made the trips he loved impossible, he would often get out his dog eared Rand McNally, which he kept next to his favorite chair in the living room, and both vicariously enjoy the trips others were intending and give advice about travel routes.
Don was also one of the founders of the River City Singles organization, a group of over-fifty singles in the Grand Valley who regularly dined out, hiked and travelled.
There are several special things to remember about Don. They include his impish grin, his dry sense of humor which was unparalleled, and his knowledge about so many things. And perhaps, more important, was his ability to find goodness in just about everyone. He had very close friends who he cherished. He loved life and lived it to the fullest of his ability. As his mother, Juliette, aged he brought her here from Minnesota and spent time daily with her until she died, remarkably, at the age of 100!
A void will be left in Grand Junction as the result of his death.
Don is survived by his niece, Jenny Ubel; his nephew, Judd Pittman, and his companion of 11 years, Judith Forward. Some laughingly suggest that tolerating Judy made him a saint. He is also survived by more loyal friends than most have experienced in a life time.
The family thanks Doctors Coffey and Scissors of the Grand Junction Veteran's Hospital who provided him such compassionate, thoughtful, and hopeful care and tried their best to sustain his life as long as could be possible. The medical staff at St. Mary's were also wonderful.
The family also thanks Don's valued friends, Ed Haynes, Bob Kukrall, and John Dendrick as well as Don's neighbors, Monte Stiglitz and Brett Bierta for all of the generous and kind support they provided to both Don and Judy after his health condition failed. These were true friends.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Callahan-Edfast, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to Don's favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.
May we all live a life as rich as Don's.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 17, 2014
October 6, 1932 - September 6, 2014
Don Aarhus left peacefully while at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded for days by family and his many loyal friends. He made his home here in Grand Junction for decades and adored Western Colorado.
Don was born in Minnesota to Juliette and Alvin Aarhus. He grew up in Faribault, Minnesota where he graduated from high school and later received his engineering degree from Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Don's two proudest accomplishments were his tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and his long term commitment to our country's Mars Space Project while working with Martin Marietta for over 20 years. Often, Don would be seen sporting his United States Marine cap.
He was also very proud of his Norwegian descent and laughed with others over "How To Speak Minnesotan".
For decades, he enjoyed four wheeling, and making annual trips to Moab, Silverton and Ouray with his many four wheeling friends. For over 30 years, he also drove his motorhome all over the United States, including two trips to Alaska.
During his single years, he went to a high school reunion and reunited with his high school girlfriend, Delaine "Dee" Coons, with whom he happily made four wheeling and RV trips for over a decade until her death. Even when his heart attack made the trips he loved impossible, he would often get out his dog eared Rand McNally, which he kept next to his favorite chair in the living room, and both vicariously enjoy the trips others were intending and give advice about travel routes.
Don was also one of the founders of the River City Singles organization, a group of over-fifty singles in the Grand Valley who regularly dined out, hiked and travelled.
There are several special things to remember about Don. They include his impish grin, his dry sense of humor which was unparalleled, and his knowledge about so many things. And perhaps, more important, was his ability to find goodness in just about everyone. He had very close friends who he cherished. He loved life and lived it to the fullest of his ability. As his mother, Juliette, aged he brought her here from Minnesota and spent time daily with her until she died, remarkably, at the age of 100!
A void will be left in Grand Junction as the result of his death.
Don is survived by his niece, Jenny Ubel; his nephew, Judd Pittman, and his companion of 11 years, Judith Forward. Some laughingly suggest that tolerating Judy made him a saint. He is also survived by more loyal friends than most have experienced in a life time.
The family thanks Doctors Coffey and Scissors of the Grand Junction Veteran's Hospital who provided him such compassionate, thoughtful, and hopeful care and tried their best to sustain his life as long as could be possible. The medical staff at St. Mary's were also wonderful.
The family also thanks Don's valued friends, Ed Haynes, Bob Kukrall, and John Dendrick as well as Don's neighbors, Monte Stiglitz and Brett Bierta for all of the generous and kind support they provided to both Don and Judy after his health condition failed. These were true friends.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Callahan-Edfast, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to Don's favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.
May we all live a life as rich as Don's.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 17, 2014
Donley "Don" Aarhus
October 6, 1932 - September 6, 2014
Don Aarhus left peacefully while at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded for days by family and his many loyal friends. He made his home here in Grand Junction for decades and adored Western Colorado.
Don was born in Minnesota to Juliette and Alvin Aarhus. He grew up in Faribault, Minnesota where he graduated from high school and later received his engineering degree from Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Don's two proudest accomplishments were his tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and his long term commitment to our country's Mars Space Project while working with Martin Marietta for over 20 years. Often, Don would be seen sporting his United States Marine cap.
He was also very proud of his Norwegian descent and laughed with others over "How To Speak Minnesotan".
For decades, he enjoyed four wheeling, and making annual trips to Moab, Silverton and Ouray with his many four wheeling friends. For over 30 years, he also drove his motorhome all over the United States, including two trips to Alaska.
During his single years, he went to a high school reunion and reunited with his high school girlfriend, Delaine "Dee" Coons, with whom he happily made four wheeling and RV trips for over a decade until her death. Even when his heart attack made the trips he loved impossible, he would often get out his dog eared Rand McNally, which he kept next to his favorite chair in the living room, and both vicariously enjoy the trips others were intending and give advice about travel routes.
Don was also one of the founders of the River City Singles organization, a group of over-fifty singles in the Grand Valley who regularly dined out, hiked and travelled.
There are several special things to remember about Don. They include his impish grin, his dry sense of humor which was unparalleled, and his knowledge about so many things. And perhaps, more important, was his ability to find goodness in just about everyone. He had very close friends who he cherished. He loved life and lived it to the fullest of his ability. As his mother, Juliette, aged he brought her here from Minnesota and spent time daily with her until she died, remarkably, at the age of 100!
A void will be left in Grand Junction as the result of his death.
Don is survived by his niece, Jenny Ubel; his nephew, Judd Pittman, and his companion of 11 years, Judith Forward. Some laughingly suggest that tolerating Judy made him a saint. He is also survived by more loyal friends than most have experienced in a life time.
The family thanks Doctors Coffey and Scissors of the Grand Junction Veteran's Hospital who provided him such compassionate, thoughtful, and hopeful care and tried their best to sustain his life as long as could be possible. The medical staff at St. Mary's were also wonderful.
The family also thanks Don's valued friends, Ed Haynes, Bob Kukrall, and John Dendrick as well as Don's neighbors, Monte Stiglitz and Brett Bierta for all of the generous and kind support they provided to both Don and Judy after his health condition failed. These were true friends.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Callahan-Edfast, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to Don's favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.
May we all live a life as rich as Don's.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 17, 2014
October 6, 1932 - September 6, 2014
Don Aarhus left peacefully while at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded for days by family and his many loyal friends. He made his home here in Grand Junction for decades and adored Western Colorado.
Don was born in Minnesota to Juliette and Alvin Aarhus. He grew up in Faribault, Minnesota where he graduated from high school and later received his engineering degree from Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Don's two proudest accomplishments were his tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and his long term commitment to our country's Mars Space Project while working with Martin Marietta for over 20 years. Often, Don would be seen sporting his United States Marine cap.
He was also very proud of his Norwegian descent and laughed with others over "How To Speak Minnesotan".
For decades, he enjoyed four wheeling, and making annual trips to Moab, Silverton and Ouray with his many four wheeling friends. For over 30 years, he also drove his motorhome all over the United States, including two trips to Alaska.
During his single years, he went to a high school reunion and reunited with his high school girlfriend, Delaine "Dee" Coons, with whom he happily made four wheeling and RV trips for over a decade until her death. Even when his heart attack made the trips he loved impossible, he would often get out his dog eared Rand McNally, which he kept next to his favorite chair in the living room, and both vicariously enjoy the trips others were intending and give advice about travel routes.
Don was also one of the founders of the River City Singles organization, a group of over-fifty singles in the Grand Valley who regularly dined out, hiked and travelled.
There are several special things to remember about Don. They include his impish grin, his dry sense of humor which was unparalleled, and his knowledge about so many things. And perhaps, more important, was his ability to find goodness in just about everyone. He had very close friends who he cherished. He loved life and lived it to the fullest of his ability. As his mother, Juliette, aged he brought her here from Minnesota and spent time daily with her until she died, remarkably, at the age of 100!
A void will be left in Grand Junction as the result of his death.
Don is survived by his niece, Jenny Ubel; his nephew, Judd Pittman, and his companion of 11 years, Judith Forward. Some laughingly suggest that tolerating Judy made him a saint. He is also survived by more loyal friends than most have experienced in a life time.
The family thanks Doctors Coffey and Scissors of the Grand Junction Veteran's Hospital who provided him such compassionate, thoughtful, and hopeful care and tried their best to sustain his life as long as could be possible. The medical staff at St. Mary's were also wonderful.
The family also thanks Don's valued friends, Ed Haynes, Bob Kukrall, and John Dendrick as well as Don's neighbors, Monte Stiglitz and Brett Bierta for all of the generous and kind support they provided to both Don and Judy after his health condition failed. These were true friends.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Callahan-Edfast, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to Don's favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.
May we all live a life as rich as Don's.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 17, 2014
Gravesite Details
Veterans Memorial Cemetery has no record of burial for this person.Nationwide GraveSite Locator has no record of burial for this person in a federally owned cemetery.Burial details unknown.
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