David Ora Dinnel

David Ora Dinnel was born on January 1, 1954. Dave was born with spina bifida and had little or no feeling below his waist. Dave’s life was pretty uncertain at the beginning. The doctors thought he would be severely handicapped and wouldn’t live past his teenage years. God had a different plan for Dave. Along came the Shriners and arranged for Dave to be treated at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Salt Lake City, Utah. There Dave underwent many operations to help him be able to walk with leg braces and crutches. His mobility was limited, but he could get around well enough to get into and out of his wheelchair, couch, chair, bed or car.

In his early childhood, Dave spent more time at the Shriner’s hospital than he did at home. Once a year mom, dad and one of us older kids would take a trip to Salt Lake City to pick him up and bring him home for a few months. Then we would take him back to the Shriner’s hospital. When the hospital had done all they could for him, he came home to live with us.

Dave was home schooled. A teacher would come to our house and give him his lessons. He would occasionally go to school and be with the other students his age. Dave graduated from Platte Valley High School at age 18.

After high school, Dave attended a class in Pueblo, Colorado where they taught handicapped young people practical skills that would help them through life. They gave him driving training and sent him home with a set of hand controls for driving a car. He nearly wrecked us several times, but got pretty good at it after a while. That was the beginning of his adult independence.

Dave had jobs at State Farm Insurance Company and Mountain Bell Telephone. For the next 40 plus years, Dave lived independently on his own. He lived in Boulder, Longmont and eventually settled in an apartment in Ft Collins. Despite his handicaps, Dave always had a positive attitude. He loved playing card games and being around other people. He spent a lot of his day at the CSU campus or at the Ft Collins mall talking to people. He even made friends at the local King Soopers store.

His independence began to fade in his late 60’s when he started to have some problems transferring in and out of his wheelchair. Eventually he had to give up his car and use mobility services to get to and from his apartment.

Unfortunately, as his medical problems increased, he spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals and rehab centers. He gave up his apartment and settled into The Broadview Rehab and Care center in Greeley. Even though his health wasn’t always good, it was nice to have him in Greeley where family could visit him regularly. What a wonderful positive life he lived.

God has now called him home where he is smiling and walking around Heaven with his new perfect body and singing praises to the Lord.

David is survived by his brother Jim W. Dinnel (Heidi) of Greeley, Colorado, his sister Janice M. Pieper (Larry) of Greeley, Colorado, his sister Judy A. Schneider (Gary) of Greeley, Colorado, his sister Linda M. Griffin (Bill) of Greeley, Colorado and his sister Helen J. Murray (Morris) of Greeley, Colorado; his brother Jack D. Dinnel (Debbie).

David was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Ruth Dinnel.

A Celebration of Life for David will be held Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Columbine Church of Christ, 2403 9th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631.