Harriet Louise Scheele

Harriet died peacefully March 23, 2012. She lost her battle with cancer after fighting bravely for over a year. She was with her sisters and surrounded by many loving thoughts from family and friends. Harriet, originally from New York, was a long time resident of Colorado Springs. Her parents preceded her in death. She leaves behind her sisters Fran Palmer, Sue Scheele and Sandy Freeman, beloved niece Jennie Freeman and brother-in-law Bob Freeman.

Harriet attained her goal of becoming a nurse. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Buffalo in 1973, during which time she participated in the Army Student Nurse Program. Harriet attended the Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, and then was assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. Colonel Scheele retired from the Army in 1998 after assignments in Germany; William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX; Fort Carson, CO; Fort Knox, KY as Chief Nurse of ROTC Command; Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco; Fort Monroe, VA; the Pentagon, Gulf War Task Force; and Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA as Chief, Clinical Nursing. Harriet was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and held a Master’s Degree in Critical Care Nursing from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio. Her major awards included the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Following retirement, Harriet obtained a post-Master’s degree as a geriatric nurse practitioner from the University of Colorado. She admired and enjoyed working with Dr. Robert Winans for over 12 years, providing care to patients and residents in long term care and assisted living facilities in the Colorado Springs area. She was a strong advocate for her patients, and provided expert, compassionate care to them all.

The family would like to thank Evercare Hospice for their kind, empathetic care, especially her nurse Kate, Dr. Christopher Ruskey, and Chaplain Ken. Harriet also had many wonderful friends and family members who supported her on this journey. The family would also like to thank Dr. Steven Murk, Dr. Anuj Peddada, and Rocky Mountain Cancer Center.

A Celebration of Harriet’s Life will be held at Anchor Way Church, 3125 Virginia Avenue, Colorado Springs on Saturday, March 31st at 1PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

Care and Share, 2605 Preamble Point, Colorado Springs, CO 80915

Evercare Hospice, 5450 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) Scholarship Fund, PO Box 847, Manhattan, KS 66505-0847

Anchor Way Church, 3125 Virginia Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80907