Ramon Van Lee Fletcher

Van was proud of his Nebraska roots. Go Big Red! He grew up with his (late) older brother Victor Valdean Fletcher and his baby brother Gary Lynn Fletcher. His favorite stories included raising and selling rabbits, as well as about his many dogs, the best of which was Poco. We will remember the story about Van and Vic baking a lovely blue cake, which his mother quickly realized was colored with “bluing” she had on hand for laundry! He also shared memories of his young life that centered around duck hunting, fishing, and boating on the Missouri River with his father.

His teenage years included many memories of playing high school football and playing the trombone in marching band, sometimes doing both things at the same game at Nebraska City High School. Crazy times with his best friend Eldon Johnson and cousin Dixie Johnson were also the topic of many tales Van later told. After high school in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he had the fortune to attend the Navy School of Music. He was rightfully very proud of his service and his music focus. Playing the bass viol in dance bands around that time brought a lot of joy to him and to all who attended.

Van was discharged from the Navy in 1954, and he was then able to begin college on the GI bill at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Enter Katie. Actually, re-enter Katie. She and Van had played in the same school band together at one point, but it wasn’t until his return from the Navy that he and Katie began dating on New Year’s Eve, 1954. They had a lot of fun together, and he liked to tell the story about the day one of his buddies said “Van, why don’t you just marry her!?!” And so he did. Van and Katie were married on August 2, 1960 in a lovely, small ceremony in Nebraska City.

Van and Katie moved west in 1960, and after a couple of “false starts” in Grand Junction, Medford OR, and Colorado Springs, they found their forever home in Steamboat Springs. In 1968, their young children Julie and Kent in tow, the green house at 143 Park Ave became theirs for the next 50 years. Having gotten a master’s degree in education and counseling psychology at the University of Nebraska, Van found his passion and purpose through his work in the education. His career during the first five years in Steamboat was as a child psychologist with a program helping educationally challenged children. This program meant traveling to schools along the western slope, from Steamboat to as far away as Meeker and Kremmling. Achievements that we are all proud of included his leadership around special education programs. He was an instrumental member of the team that secured funding for the inception of the Child Study Center. We all remember how he braved the winter roads, traveling throughout Routt County to serve children with special needs and their families. In his role as guidance counselor at the Steamboat Springs Junior High, he made long-lasting friendships with many fellow teachers, felt a sense of accomplishments when able to help youth who struggled, and enjoyed chaperoning dances and school sports events. We also remember the stories of gatherings with friends around that time, such as the Cow Creek parties. Later on, his circle of special friends included those through his active membership at the First United Methodist Church, as a member of the American Legion, and all of the ladies at their early morning water aerobics class at the Old Town Hot Springs pool.

As a fly fisherman, he loved his time in the A-frame cabin he built along the Elk River, sometimes with his brothers and many times teaching nieces, nephews, and Julie and Kent to fish. “You catch it, you clean it” was his motto, and while he taught everyone how to clean the trout, somehow Kent got away with never cleaning one trout himself! The cabin was lovely, and a place of good memories for so many family members and friends. He used his carpentry skills, first learned as a teenager, to help many friends with home building and remodeling. And of course, everyone who knew Van, was impressed with his handyman skills. He will always be remembered for his hobby of finding treasures to restore or repurpose.

Van is survived by his loving wife Katie Fletcher, daughter Julie Brewen (husband Jaeson), grandson Hunter Brewen, brother Gary Fletcher, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who will always remember him for these and other special things. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Kent Von Fletcher, and his brother Victor Valdean Fletcher.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church

www.heartofsteamboat.com

P.O. Box 773748

Steamboat Springs, CO 80477

or

Christ United Methodist Church

(Pastor Aaron Gray)

www.cumc-fc.org/giving/donate

301 E Drake Road

Fort Collins, CO 80525

970 226-2341

or

Yampa Valley Community Foundation, Education Endowment at

https://yvcf.org/education-endowment-yvcf/

or contact the YVCF at 970 871-0431

Yampa Valley Community Foundation

P.O. Box 881869

Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Please check back for celebration of life details to be held in the spring.