David Paul Bakken

David Paul Bakken, 58, of Littleton, a long-time Denver Public Schools teacher, died October 14th following a two-year battle with cancer. David was born on April 13, 1964 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He had some health issues as an infant (skin infection, colic) but grew up to be a healthy person, who was a blessing to so many. He spent his childhood in the public schools of Idaho Falls. He struggled with learning and spent a lot of time gazing out the window. There was no such diagnosis as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder at that time.

When he got to third grade, his teacher called his mother in. David’s teachers had convinced his mother that he was a problem student and probably not terribly bright. When the third grade teacher called his mother in, she told her she did NOT agree with that diagnosis and was going to have him tested. She could not believe that John Bakken’s younger brother could be anything but bright. After the testing affirmed her opinion, she and David’s mother set about teaching him to read. Many, many Dr. Seuss books assisted in that task. Later in life, David would read Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and other fantasy writings. It took him until high school to catch up with his age group. It was nothing but up from there.

David went to junior high and some high school in Idaho Falls before he moved to Tulsa, OK with his mother and stepfather. After a year in Tulsa, they moved to Lafayette, CO. He finished high school there, went to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins for two years, then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado to major in education with a bi-lingual emphasis. (He finished college there with an impressive GPA. What a difference a great teacher made in David’s life!)

He was the first student in an exchange program with Mexico. He spent a few months in Merida teaching elementary school students. His Spanish was not great yet and he ended up the only teacher in that classroom. Right before he arrived, the Mexican teacher left. He struggled to teach fully in Spanish. The students would interrupt him with “Maestro, maestro, you said… and you meant…” They all thought it was hilarious.

His first year of teaching was in Sunland Park, New Mexico, a suburb of El Paso, TX. Most teachers remember that first year of teaching and how discouraged they were at times. David was no exception. He came back to Colorado to teach at Barnum Elementary in Denver. Afterwards he taught at Beach Court and MSLA where he was loved by all. During his career in the school system, David was a teacher, assistant principal, intervention specialist and a literacy coach. He taught in the Denver Public School System for 27 years before he had to retire to begin his battle with colon cancer.

During his first marriage with Caroline Ruddy, he had two children: Nicholas Paul in 1993 and Mariah Lee in 1997.

In 2016, David married his fellow teacher and longtime close friend Malina. When David married Malina, he warmly embraced her four children. He was an amazing father and stepfather and served as a guiding light to all his children.

David is survived by his wife Malina, son Nick, daughter Mariah, her husband Anthony Brooks and David’s first grandchild, Carter David Brooks. Other survivors include his mother and stepfather, Connie and Don Stoutt of Montrose, CO; brother John Bakken (Jennifer), nephew Grey of Salt Lake City, UT and stepchildren Brook Meichtry, Corwin Meichtry, Stephan Meichtry and Sophia Meichtry.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” -Henry Adams

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CrownHillFuneral.com for the Bakken family.