Phillip Wayne Nolen

Phillip Wayne Nolen, aged 77, died December 20, 2012 at Porter Hospice in Centennial Colorado. Phillip was born January 25, 1935 in Tucson, Arizona to Cyril McGee and Anthony Wayne Nolen. Phillip is survived by his wife of 55 years, Diane Oates Nolen and his 6 daughters; Kenna (Winston) Tripp, Kerry (Jack) Fetherston, Karla (Jerry) Lee, Kristen (Kevin) Canaday, Kelly (Clay) Shubin and Kim (Graham) Allen, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and his brother Gale Bell of Arizona.

Phil served his country honorably during the Korean War; he then enrolled at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he met the love of his life, his college sweetheart Diane. They were married September 13, 1957 in the Los Angeles, LDS Temple after their sophomore year of college and both continued on to graduate in June, 1959. Phil earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Banking, Real Estate and Marketing. Phil and Diane were true blue, BYU serving on the Alumni Board of directors as well as being the Colorado chapter representative.

Phil began working in the construction industry when he was 14 years old; his life- long dream was to become a Building Contractor and Developer. Having grown up on a working cattle ranch, his other dream was to own a working cattle ranch. He started the 6 Bar K Ranch and ran a cow-calf operation for 25 years in Colorado and Nebraska.

Phil founded Nolen Construction in 1965 in Southern California where he built shopping centers, hospitals, churches, retirement homes, industrial parks, government buildings and private homes. Phil moved the company to Colorado in 1972 where he continued to build and began developing the projects he then owned and managed. By the 1980’s Phil had built and was managing over 1,000,000 square feet of commercial, industrial and retail projects.

Phil lived life large, he loved his family, and his business, he worked hard so he could play hard. He had many passions including, hunting, fishing, skiing, water skiing, taking the sons-in-law on a yearly fly fishing expedition in Montana. He was an instrument rated private pilot flying all over the state of California conducting business, periodically taking his daughters along for the ride, he loved to skydive, and was an active member of a skydiving club where he was able to accomplish a free fall after so many successful jumps until his wife put her foot down declaring this hobby too dangerous for a husband and father of 6 daughters. His numerous trips each year to the ranch for round up, branding and ranch maintenance were some of the best times of his life. In the 80’s and 90’s he was an avid runner and triathlete, qualifying for the Boston Marathon which he ran in April of 1982. Phil enjoyed family time on the houseboat at Lake Powell, where some of the most precious memories were made on those yearly trips for 30 years, a tradition the children and grandchildren will never forget.

Phil was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints his entire life. It was his strong beliefs and devotion to church and family that defined the man and leader he was. Over his lifetime, Phil served as a Bishop, was on the High Council, served in two Stake Presidencies, and taught early morning seminary to the youth for 12 years. He was active in Scouting for 25 years, serving as a scout leader, fund raiser and receiving the highest honor in scouting leadership: the Silver Beaver Award. Phil was an innovative leader, he started the blood drive between Bonfills and the LDS Church, he also started the Scout Ski Day program.

Over the years, Phil planned church history trips for the youth and leaders of the Littleton, Colorado Stake, at one time taking 11 bus loads from Colorado to Nauvoo, Illinois. He was involved from planning and organizing, working out all the logistics, making the dream become a reality. He also organized the first Pioneer Trek which re-created the Pioneers move from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Phil’s greatest achievement was raising and loving his family He had the ability to put aside all his worries and responsibilities and give undivided attention to his family whether it be at a sporting event, family vacation or just hanging out.

The viewing will be at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary at 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. Centennial, CO 80121 from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Thursday December 27th and funeral services will be at the LDS Church at 999 W. Tufts Ave. Englewood, CO 80113 at 11 A.M Friday December 28, 2012.