Gordon Robert Pegler (Artist)

He was born December 25, 1936 in San Diego, CA, the son of John (Jack) and Ruth Pegler. The family moved to Colorado Springs in 1946 when Gordon was 10. He promptly fell deeply and permanently in love with the Rocky Mountains.

Gordon attended Moody Bible Institute and met his future wife. Thordys Thorson at Lydia’s Children’s Home, a Christian home for orphaned children, in Chicago, IL. At the children’s home, he taught art and shared Christ with the children. He and Thordys fell in love and were married in her parent’s farmhouse on August 20, 1960 in Des Plains, IL.

Their first home was a trailer house in a suburb of Chicago, where four of their five children were born. The addition of the children caused them to outgrow their trailer home so they moved to Gordon’s hometown of Colorado Springs. Gordon’s dad helped them find their present property on N 7th St.

They began attending Pleasant Valley Baptist Church and, while the children were growing up, they consistently attended church as a family. They later attended nearby Lighthouse Baptist Church and, when it relocated about 10 or 12 years ago, Mesa Hills became their home church.

For the last 10 years of Thordys’ life, Gordon faithfully was her caretaker. Gordon was a firm believer in Christ and shared God’s word to many. He also enjoyed playing his harmonica, nature and photography and taking care of bees.

He was the owner of Country Side Designs and taught art classes nearly 20 years. His love for nature was the center of his artistic work. This was regardless of the medium: pin and ink, watercolor, pastel chalk, acrylic, charcoal or glass etchings. In 1973 he began his professional career as an artist. He had over 2000 paintings in private collections across the nations and around the world, including some in Germany, Japan, England and Mexico. Three past U.S. Presidents own his paintings. He had been commissioned to paint murals in various churches, banks and office buildings. For over 20 years his illustrations of biblical truths used chalk and black light – known as chalk talks.

He is survived by three sons; Paul of Colorado Springs, Jonathan (Victoria) of Canon City and Colorado Springs and Mark (Jennifer of Canton, MO; two daughters; Ruth (John) Duncan of Roundup, MT and Hannah Wallace of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by four siblings; brothers Don (Geri) and Dave (Elizabeth) and a sister, Lillian Burnett, all of Colorado Springs and a sister, Bernice (Jim) Porzig of Unicon, TN. Also included in survivors are 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren plus 1 yet to be born and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs, CO. 80910.

A memorial service will be January 24, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mesa Hills Bible Church, 615 W Uintah St, Colorado Springs. Interment will be at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 3825 Airport Road, Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mesa Hill Bible Church.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and one granddaughter, Naomi Rachel Duncan.

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Home, Colorado Springs, Colorado.