Christopher Lee Hollis

Christopher Lee Hollis, passed away peacefully at Denver Hospice Center, Monday, June 16, 2020, from stage 4 esophageal cancer. He was 63 years old. Chris was widely respected for his woodworking skills, and his passions were fly fishing, making ukuleles, and anything to do with his wife and son.

Born June 26, 1956, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver, CO, he was the third son of Robert and Olga Hollis. He graduated from Lincoln High School, Class of 1974, and attended Metro State Community College, where he received an AA degree in Electronics.

Chris married Sharon VanDamme on June 21, 1986, in Gwinn, MI. They called several places home—Arvada, CO, Kennesaw, GA, and Lakeville, MN—before settling in Chris’s birth state of Colorado in 1993. The mountains called their name and Conifer was home for 16 years. Lakewood has been their home for the past 11 years.

In March 1991, they were blessed with a son, Robert (Rob). Together they delighted in watching Rob play various sports. Chris enjoyed coaching or assistant coaching when he could. He taught Rob everything he knew about carpentry, jokingly saying, "if all goes wrong, at least you can fall back on this." Rob took this to the next level and has pursued a career in Architecture, promising to follow in his footsteps.

Chris specialized in interior trim woodworking and historical restoration, and during his 45-year career helped to restore the Colorado State Capitol, the Denver Union Station and numerous historic buildings. He was known for his strong work ethic and his incredibly detailed work. One of his builders said he “greatly admired and respected Chris and marveled at his talents—not just with wood but anything that required involvement with his hands and his mind. He was a true gentleman who loved his family.”

His personal masterpiece may have been his own 1938 home in Lakewood, which he lovingly transformed in Craftsman style even as he battled cancer. He and his family were in the process of starting work on their cabin in South Park, CO, where Chris loved to sit under the stars and stare out at Pikes Peak. Rob plans to finish the project in his name. The fish frequently called him at one of his favorite spots, the San Juan River at Navajo Dam, NM, and numerous rivers throughout Colorado and Wyoming.

If you ever noticed Chris’s attire, he always wore his t-shirts inside out. He could not stand the seams against his skin. The last shirt he wore at Denver Hospice, had not only a collar on it but seams too. One of the final things he did before slipping away from us was to take off his shirt! With his donation of his corneas we're hoping others will have the opportunity to see the glimmer of a trout in a stream or a sunset over the mountains for the very first time.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sharon, their son Rob (and girlfriend Casandra Ortegon); brother Dr. Jeff Hollis (Ellen) of Geneva, NE; sister-in-laws Kathy VanDamme of Morrison, CO, Laurie VanDamme (Steve Govier) of Gwinn, MI; and Linda VanDamme of Cornell, MI; brother-in-law Father Larry VanDamme of Negaunee, MI; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and loyal friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Olga, and infant brother Shawn.

A memorial will be held at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO, on Friday, June 19, at 9:30 a.m. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the service will be limited to 50 people. A celebration of Chris’s life will be held immediately following the service at the Hollis' home in Lakewood.

A special thank you to Kaiser Medical Staff and Denver Hospice for the last three years of care and kindness.