Elsie Hazel Valkinburg

Elsie Hazel Valkinburg , Mrs. Max S. Van Valkinburg, ascended to the next life , October 13 2020. Proceeded by beloved husband Max, mother Hazel, father, Mina (Dallas) Daffron, brothers, Miles and Curtis along with a nearly life long friend Arlene Case .

 

Survived by three sons, Ivan ( Bernadine ), Mark and John, numerous nieces and nephews including, Ms. Joyce Wentzell of Vancouver, Washington and John ( Kim ) Cowdrey of Alamogordo New Mexico . .

 

Daughter of Mina Miles and Hazel Poe Daffron. ELsie was born December 1st 1935 in Monta Vista, Colorado. Grew up in La Junta, Colorado and earned an Associates Degree from Otero Collage.  Elsie married Korean War Veteran Max S. Van Valkinburg in 1955 and moved to Pueblo, Colorado becoming a Steel Workers wife. Three children were produced, Ivan Ray, Mark Thomas and John David Valkinburg .

 

Elsie was devoted to her family. Along with looking after three boys with a four year total age difference, A husband that rotated shifts every week, She still made time to produce hand sewn Halloween costumes, was active in the PTA and other school activities . Elsie was extremely proud of the fact that all three of her sons were Eagle Scouts. When the boys were old enough to fend for themselves after school in the afternoon, Elsie started working for The Boy Scouts of America, Rocky Mountain Council.  When no one else was able or willing to be the Scoutmaster of B.P.O.E. Troop #90, Max stepped up, took control and saw it through until all of his sons and many others became Eagle Scouts.  Later in life Elsie beat Cancer, continued reading almost every book she could get ahold of, She ran a gift shop in Pueblo West for many years while remaining the Matriarch of the family.

 

Years ago some of the boys friends became adopted sons , Gary Papish and Donald Koen of Pueblo, Colorado, Stan Witzel, of Sarasota Florida. Over the last fifteen years or so, John and Anna Martinez always kept an eye on Mom from across the street. Elsie's youngest son John, her helper/caregiver for the last fifteen years, always placed Elsie's needs ahead of his own . Without John our time with Elsie would have been greatly reduced.  Elsie remained devoted to her family . She never really said it out loud but you could tell she thought her sons and daughter in law Bernie could do no wrong.  She is thought to have been the last remaining member of The La Junta High School Class of 1953 .

 

Elsie passed from complications from surgery on her Esophagus, needed to ease the symptoms of Achalasia.

 

Elsie will be sadly missed by family and remembered fondly by all who knew her . .

I love you Mom . . .