Jasper Croonenberghs Obituary

Durango native and avid football fan Jasper William Croonenberghs died early Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2010, in Denver after watching the Broncos win Sunday night. He was 88.

Mr. Croonenberghs was born to Leo and Anne Croonenberghs on Jan. 29, 1922, in Durango. He grew up listening for the train whistle because his father was an engineer on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He grew up in Southwest Colorado, mostly in Durango but also in Ridgway. He graduated from Durango High School in 1939.

When World War II broke out, Mr. Croonenberghs enlisted in the Navy and served as a radioman on the USS Windham Bay in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

After the war, he attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1949 with a degree in civil engineering. A few days after graduating, on June 11, 1949, he married Josephine Bailey in New Mexico.

Shortly after their marriage, Mr. Croonenberghs went to work for the Colorado Department of Transportation. He worked on projects throughout the state for more than 30 years.

Mr. Croonenberghs was a lifetime member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

He loved to garden, especially tomatoes. His family said there would be tomatoes from wall to wall in the kitchen every summer.

"The things Jasper loved most in life were his grandchildren football, beer, chocolate, pretty girls, big band and ice cream; but not necessarily in that order," his daughter, Jacqueline Horney, wrote. "He loved to tease the girls, listen to big band, especially Glenn Miller, have a cold beer and watch football, and eat ice cream. I think the four people he loved most in this world were his grandchildren."

Mr. Croonenberghs lived with his daughter and her family for the last few years of his life.

"He loved to tease anyone who came his way – especially the nurses!" she wrote. "The lines he came up with, holy cow! I had to make him promise not to tease my children's young, teenage friends (especially the girls) so he didn't scare them to death. He held his tongue, but I know it wasn't always easy."

Mr. Croonenberghs is survived by his wife of 61 years, Josephine Croonenberghs, of Denver; son, Jon Croonenberghs, of Golden; daughter Jacqueline Horney, of Reno, Nev.; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Oct. 8, 2010, at Horand and McConaty Funeral Home, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., in Denver. His ashes will be buried in Southwest Colorado next summer.