Vernon Howard Widger

Vern was born in Eads, CO June 11, 1936, to Howard and Bonnie (Mikes) Widger. The family farmed in Eads, CO and Wauneta, NE then moved to an acreage where Arvada, CO stands today. In the 4th grade the family moved to Mead, CO. Vern went to school in Mead through the 11th grade and then graduated from Longmont High School in 1954.

He met the love of his life; Gail. They were married in 1959 and were together for 64 years.

He was drafted in the US Army in 1959. He became a Sergeant First-Class in the 25th Infantry Division, Tropic Lightning and was stationed on Oahu, Hawaii and Laos and served until 1965.

Vern loved the cowboy life, cowboying on ranches, galloping racehorses, and started riding bulls professionally in 1955 in the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) which later became the PRCA. He judged rodeos for the Little Britches Rodeo Assoc and the Colorado Professional Rodeo Assoc (CPRA) for 20+ plus years, traveling throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Cowboys and cowgirls alike loved Vern and voted for him to judge their year-end finals several years. He retired from judging in 1998. Still today so many cowboys talk about Vern and how admired and honest he was. He was also an avid runner, competing in the Bolder Boulder 6 years, coached junior high boys’ basketball and also competed on motocross dirt bikes.

Vern worked at Great Western Sugar Co from 1961 to 1970, Martin Marietta Cement Plant from 1970 to 1980 and then on to Frontier Materials for several years as a welder. He then went to the St. Vrain School District 14 years until his retirement.

Vern & Gail spent 11 winters in Arizona in their fifth wheel RV and truly loved it!

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Pat DeSantis, his sister and brother-in-law, George & Connie Smith, his nephews Jim & Joel Smith as well as many other relatives. He is survived by his wife, Gail, their daughter Linda Meglemre (husband Randy) of Berthoud, CO and Raylene Rohrbaugh (husband Steve) of Lincoln, NM.

At his request there will be no funeral. His ashes will be scattered on Raylene’s Ranch in Lincoln, NM.