William Paul Amen

William P. Bill Amen passed away peacefully on January 25, 2012 at Hospice Care Center in Louisville, surrounded by his family. He was 75.Bill was born at his home in Loveland, CO, on July 21, 1936, to Jacob and Katherine Amen, German immigrants from Russia. He was the youngest of 9 children. His family moved to Mead, CO when his father got a job with the railroad. He lived there until the middle of his junior year in high school when he and his mother moved to Longmont. He graduated from Longmont High School in 1954.When he was 14, he met Eleanor Ellie Nelson, and they dated throughout high school. They married on August 14, 1955 at Central Presbyterian Church in Longmont. They were married for 35 wonderful years until her death in 1990. They enjoyed many trips to Hawaii with family and friends. Bill served in the Longmont National Guard Unit from 1954-1963 where he earned the rank of staff sergeant. He has been a member of the Central Presbyterian Church since 1955, where he served as an Elder, Deacon and Trustee. He and Ellie were also High School advisors and played in the bell choir.A life-long lover of sports, he was an athlete in high school where he played football and basketball. He later played fast-pitch softball for several years with Drager Homes. He was an avid fan of Colorado sports teams and loved to fish and play golf especially fishing with his two grandsons and his brother, Robert, and golfing and attending CU Buffs football games with his son.Bill was a carpenter for many years and built his own house and mountain cabin. He then was a carpenter and locksmith for the Boulder Valley School District until his retirement in 1994. He married Marilyn Johnston on September 29, 1995. They enjoyed 16 years together and she was a steadfast supporter and caregiver during his failing health.Bill's greatest pride and joy were his six grandchildren, and he faithfully attended their many sporting events and musical performances.He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his son, William Bill, and his wife, Kathy; his daughter, Jeanine Hirsh, and her husband, Kent; and his grandchildren, Katelyn, Megan and Will Amen and Brad, Leanna and Rachel Hirsh. He is also survived by two step-daughters, Christine Johnston (Shawn) and Cindy Mason (Derek), and their sons Peter and Luke; as well as two sisters, Kay Taylor and her husband Milt, and Alma Cox; and a sister-in-law, Betty Amen.He was preceded in death by his wife Ellie; a sister, Esther Schmidt; and five brothers: Victor, Jacob, Robert, Edward and Arthur Amen.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, Jan. 30, at Central Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. David Barker officiating. A private graveside internment precedes the service.Memorial contributions can be made to HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties or Central Presbyterian Church in Longmont in c/o Ahlberg Funeral Chapel.