Mass of the Resurrection for Gladys Agnes Callen will be celebrated on July 5, 2018 at 11am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Castle Rock, Colorado. Rev. Ricardo Rosales will be the celebrant. Rosary will be recited on July 4, 2018 at 6pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Memory Garden Cemetery, Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Mrs. Callen died June 28, 2018 at 2:10 PM at North Shore Health and Rehabilitation in Loveland as result of serious illness which took her life within two days. She was born on September 30, 1917, at home in Mitchell, Nebraska and was the daughter of Hugo August and Clara Anna (Feckley) Pieper.
Following her marriage to Vester Kenneth Callen on 4-24-1942 in Santa Monica, California, he entered the Navy and she worked at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica. After the war ended, they returned to Mitchell, Nebraska where they made their home until 1950 when they moved to Brush, Colorado. After their children graduated from high school, they moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado. After her husband died, she moved to Loveland, Colorado until 2008 when she moved to Castle Rock to be close to her daughter.
Survivors include her sister, Clara Scalph and brother LeRoy Pieper, one daughter, Mary Ann Kientz, four sons; Melvin Callen, Hughie Callen, Robert Callen and Rodney Callen; twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband V.K.Callen, grand daughter Sarah Agnes Marie Callen, sister Irene Pieper; and brothers Hugh Pieper and Lawrence Pieper.
Eulogy:
Our mother, Gladys Agnes Pieper Callen was born to Hugo A. Pieper and Clara Anna Feckley on September 30, 1917 in the farmhouse that her father built in Mitchell, Nebraska. She was the second oldest of four children. Growing up as a member of a farming family, everyone was expected to work and help each other. There were many long days filled with chores before school, attend school, chores after school then finish with homework. There wasn’t much time for play. One of her happiest memories is when her father bought a small buggy with two ponies, “Jack and Daisy” that took her, her brother, and sister to and from school. None of the other children had the luxury of this type of transportation. Another fond memory was that her father was always the one who cut their hair. They all had the same hair style as seen in her favorite picture of the four of them the day that Irene and Mother, with Lawrence, and Clara received their First Communion.
When she was 3 years old, her mother died of blood poisoning transferred by a doctor, from one patient to her, when he delivered her youngest sister. Her father eventually re-married and two more boys were added to the family.
She met our Father, Vester Kenneth Callen at a dance in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. On April 24, 1942, they got married at St. Monica’s in Santa Monica, California. She worked at Douglas Aircraft there and when “Kennie” was discharged, they moved back to Mitchell, Nebraska where he found work. They lived there until 1950 when the family moved to Limon, Colorado. In 1952, they moved to Brush, Colorado. There 5 children were raised.
Mother was the rock of our family – she kept us together through hard times. Her greatest pleasure was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved the challenge when playing cards whether it was bridge, pinochle or spite and malice. In her later years, she enjoyed her quiet time by watching the golf tournaments on TV especially when Tiger Woods was on the course.
She is survived by her sister, Clara Scalph, brother, LeRoy Pieper, children, Mary Ann Kientz, Melvin Callen, Hughie Callen, Robert Callen and Rodney Callen, 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband – Kenneth Callen; granddaughter - Sarah Agnes Marie Callen; sister - Irene Pieper; and brothers Lawrence Pieper and Hugh Pieper.
Our Mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt, and Cousin, has left us today to meet our Lord in heaven. Thank you, Mother, for the gifts of love and faith! You are a blessing to all of us! We love you and will always miss you! Please watch over us from above!
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18