Unless we were driving around in his TT or sitting next to each other in his living room, me asking questions about his life long ago, him answering each question with his classic twinkle eyed smile. Sometimes I’d forget where I’d fit into his life.
The grandpa I knew was quick with a sentimental comment and a one liner giving some snippet of life advice. 

What kind of grandpa was Grandpa Jack? So my grandpa will just pick me up, listen to me cry and blabber on about my worries and I don’t have to listen back and hear him talk about how chaotic his life is? He’d give me relationship advice in the most charming charismatic ways. There was nothing like getting a compliment from grandpa Jack, followed by his ever so spot on directives. A skill and quality both he and aunt majorie shared so hopefully its hereditary. 

Oh did he have a way with words. Not only did he have charm. His presence in my life was so steady, it was calm in ways that I am not naturally calm. He modeled to me that worth is inherent if you believe in yourself. To a self conscious teenage girl, if he believed in me it must be true. From his beautiful house on the hill to his airy scofts especially when I said something perposerus. Grandpa was a pillar of strength, an arrow pointing me in the right direction, as I dipped and weaved on and off my path.

 I will always take pride in our political talks and my ability to handle these conversations over your special brand of martinis.


In a lot of ways, I was reintroduced to my grandpa, since, I grew up in Aspen, and we only came down to Denver a couple of times a year, in a lot of ways, I didn’t really *know* my grandpa. I remember having fun with him when he and Joyce came up to visit us in Aspen for skiing, hiking, and leaf peeping and of course I distinctly remember the joy I experienced at ‘Grandpa’s Lake’ and learning to fish. I don’t exactly remember memories of the time I spent with him as a child, maybe just the feelings, which were always good. 

So again, despite the hurt that I have experienced in the last several months of effectively helping my grandfather die, I am so incredibly grateful for the time I’ve spent truly getting to know my grandfather in ways that I never would have without this time. Really, since gathering the photos for and putting together the slideshow celebrating him for his 90th birthday last April, I have been so lucky to have had him and Joyce in my life. 

In this time with him, I have mourned the grandfather I didn’t necessarily get to know because of distance and past family hurts, especially when I have heard about the grandpa that my cousins (who are technically step, but I don’t really want or feel that notion of separation anymore). 


This is my tribute to my grandfather, who I was lucky enough to get to know again and who I loved, flaws and all. Please know that everyone who is here today feels and deserves their own love and version of this fantastic man. Nobody is perfect and even though he is gone we don’t only have to remember him just for how amazing he was but can also be frustrated by the fact that in the end, he could only watch Fox News at a deafening volume and that he owned and frequently wore a MAGA hat. He really was the best. 

Grandpa, I love you, I’ll miss you, I’ll take care of Joyce, and I hope you can rest easy knowing the phenomenal impact you had on my and your families’ lives.


Thank you all for being here to celebrate my father’s life! ...For those who haven't met me yet I am daughter number 3 Jackie. I want to first thank Joyce for giving dad such great care throughout your years together especially as his health failed.

My visit last August was my most memorable since Dad's big 90th, (I apologize for the painful emotional delivery that day for those of you who watched me struggle through it, but I guess I knew, after not seeing him for 2 years because of Covid, this would be his last birthday. He was so thin and frail from my last visit... When I talked to Joyce at one of my weekly phone calls, she said, “Your Dad is getting.
very weak and his kidneys and heart are getting worse, you need to come soon.”

When I arrived I was on a mission to get Dad stronger with healthy meals.  I remember how feeble he was when I saw him in the bathroom without a shirt, shaving and trying to continue his independent daily routine. I saw a skeleton with skin over it. The shock of seeing him so thin… I wiped the tear and persevered with the plan.  Small 1 block walks with Ziggy and a wheelchair ride in Golden with Jeanne along the river. 

But for me the greatest gift he gave me besides being my Dad was 4 words just before I left. He looked me in the eye and held my shoulders then hugged me afterwards. "You saved my life. To me it meant much more. Something Dad could never express to his silly, goofy, animal loving daughter.  IT MEANT to me validation. I see you. I hear you. I value your knowledge. I'm proud of you BUT most of all I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Dad I will miss so many things but mostly our weakly phone conversations, hearing your voice, sarcasm and chuckle then telling each other, “I love you.” before we hang up

You will forever be in my heart and memories I am proud to be your namesake.
I will forever love you!
(blow kiss to heavens)


My father was my greatest mentor. His life set a bar so high, I will never live up to it.  My father worked hard but loved the outdoors and fishing. We all spent time with him at Wade Lake—a private fishing club on a ranch in North Park outside of Walden. In high school, it was frequently just me and my dad. Those long hours in the boat are some of the fondest memories I have of my time with him. I fished from the back with a spinning rod and he sat in the front with his flyrod. We would contemplate what the fish might go for. For me, it was red devils, rooster tails or maybe orange mepps. For dad, wooly bugger flies were a favorite. The grungy trailer is where we slept and cooked. The spiders and mice were our bunk mates out on the water. We were often not talking; just comfortable in the quiet of nature experiencing how the sun on the water changed throughout the afternoon. Contemplating where the fish might be anticipating a tug on the line, setting the hook, bring the fish to the boat. 

My parents parted ways when we all left the house. Eventually my father met and married Joyce. Joyce was the love of his life and his greatest fishing companion. Once she got hold of the grungy trailer, she sent the spiders and mice packing and decorated with fresh cut wild flowers.

Joyce, thank you for your love and meticulous care of my father at the end. I believe you extended his life by years.

We are all blessed that all of us who called him Dad and Grandpa were able to spend time with him at the end and that he passed at home. Thank you Joyce for making this possible Thank you, Jeanne, for all the time sitting and sharing hours of football and a special thank you to my amazing, selfless daughter, Alex, who moved in and helped Joyce when she could no longer manage my father’s care herself. 

I know that with time, memories of the time at the lake and happier times will fill the void I feel not that he is gone.


Grandpa Jack was our patriarch. He led our family as chief and captain; sitting at the helm of the table, he would voice our toasts and our speeches. 

Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, or a quick drive to grandpa’s for a family meal, he’d be the first to raise his glass, he’d raise his glass the highest, he’d clear his throat, and he’d begin to impart his learned wisdom. 

His toasts signified the start of meal, a celebration of a significant event, and most importantly it was a rally for our family to come together. 
Every toast began with how he was grateful for all of the family that could be present in the moment. 

Today, as a unified family, we gather in his honor. We may have swollen eyes and a deep lasting pain in our chests, and we may not have a Grandpa Jack worthy toast but we are here to raise a glass or martini to Grandpa. 

Grandpa was our tribal leader and his speeches provided raw words of encouragement. 

Many of us here today are following directly in his footsteps and from him are pursuing higher education, a love of architecture; I know when I was presented with an opportunity to take a day’s drive to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, I couldn’t pass it up, most of us like grandpa Jack are strong willed but will heartily laugh given the opportunity. 
When it comes to following in grandpa’s footsteps, he was the man who was always the first to dance and let me follow directly in his footfalls even with two left feet.

Grandpa may not be here to raise his glass but once again he has brought us all together, and grandpa, I am so thankful all of us as family have been able to be here in this moment to celebrate you.



Mitch: Good afternoon. I am Mitchell Kvaal and this is my brother Matt; Jim and Kim’s son. As you heard from my dad, Grandpa Jack married Grandmama when I was little…

I had the honor of being the ring bearer at Grandpa Jack and Grandmama’s wedding. I treasurer the memory of Grandpa Jack and Grandmama’s marriage, over an amazing 27 years of love, happiness, and crazy family fun. Christmas Eve at Grandmama and Grandpa Jack’s were always a blast, a bit chaotic, and a special part of my childhood memories. We knew there would presents and games, and always a little bit of mayhem. I regret that my daughter won’t have the opportunity to know Grandpa Jack. 

Though he is gone, he will always be the head of our family, our special Grandpa Jack. We love you and miss you Grandpa.

Matt: I was not yet born when Grandpa Jack married Grandmama. So, he’s always been Grandpa Jack to me and always will be. 

When I was younger, I have some of the best memories spending summer days and nights with my brother and cousins at Kid’s Camp in their backyard. Despite sometimes being tortured by them lol. Grandpa Jack and Grandmama built a home and a family that has so much love in it. I remember how beautiful it was to spend Christmas eve at their house, opening presents and just appreciating being together as a family. As I’ve grown older, Grandpa Jack has always been there to support me whether that be coming to my high school graduation in California and for my college graduation in Arizona. I will always be grateful for that. I also have so much respect for Grandpa Jack as a person. For graduating from Princeton to building a highly successful Architectural Firm but most importantly for building a life filed with travel, joy, and love with Grandmama. It is an honor to be a pall bearer today and hope grandpa Jack is somewhere watching over all of us knowing how much he will be missed. 


Hello. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Jessica, one of Jack's grand daughters. Now, I'm not related to Grandpa Jack by birth, but he was the one who showed me that family isn't only defined by last names and blood, but that it's defined by commitment and love.

Today is a hard day. As I look around and see all the swollen faces I can't help but to feel the loss of someone so great. But its times like these that I realize just how blessed we all are to have known someone so incredible.

Growing up, I remember him always smiling at us as we hunted around for Easter eggs in their backyard, or laughing at us when we put on ridiculous plays in the amazing kidz kamp he built for us, or even taunting us as he held up the pole with all the grand kid's stockings, making sure we were all bursting with anticipation before we got to open them.

He was always a very loving and caring grandfather. One year, during spring break, when we were in grade school, me and my two sisters came over to grandmama's and grandpa Jack's house to spend the night. It started to snow that night, and when we woke up, we had 4 feet of snow. It even knocked their power out. Naturally, being young kids, the first thing we wanted to do was go outside to play! We played out there for hours! And the entire time we played outside, Grandpa was always there either shoveling snow or just watching us, making sure we were ok. 

Since the power had been out for hours by the time we came back inside, it was a little hard to warm up! The house was pretty chilly. But Grandpa Jack quickly got a fire started. Using his engineering skills, he also set up a makeshift curtain to reduce the house space so we could all stay warm. 

It was moments like these that I knew just how much he cared for us. And so I know, even today, he's still watching over us, still looking out for us all. 


Good afternoon and thank you all for coming.  I am Jim Kvaal, Joyce’s oldest son and Jack’s stepson. Jack came into our young family’s lives when I was married and a father with one another child on the way. Mitch the oldest, now 31, was only 4 and Matt, now 26 was not yet born. In other words, Jack came into our lives at a time I needed his experience and wisdom. We have always appreciated his kindness, generosity, and being a part of his family.  

As I think back on the first gathering of this new family, we were at the country club for the dinner meeting one another for the first. Mom glowing with happiness and excitement to be marrying Jack. And Jack was equally as excited but confident as an experienced groom should be. 

They expressed their love for each other and joy in being together with all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. That love and joy was evident still at jack’s 90th and Mom’s 80th birthday celebrations last year.  And I might add, that there were no “bathroom incidents” as that those birthday celebrations unlike Jack’s 70th.

Through their almost 30 years together, Mom and Jack had the opportunity to tour the world on several trips. However, they always were rooted at home, turning Jack’s Frank Lloyd Wright designed house (or as we often referred to it as the Brady Brunch house) into the hub of our blended family gatherings. Christmas Eve extravaganzas, Kids Camp, and birthday celebrations often included 20-30 people or more. But there were also the quieter times, a quick visit if I was working nearby, a cup of coffee for Kim on her way to Regis University, dinners when we came back into town – we always knew that Mom and Jack were there for us. 

As we gather to say goodbye to Jack today, I also want to say thank you to him. Thank you for loving my mother so well, thank you for welcoming us into your family and opening your home and heart to us, thank you for bring Grandpa Jack to my sons, and thank you for being an example.

I was asked what one word described Jack.  So many words traveled through my thoughts.  The fact that I was a distance person in his life, the husband of a stepdaughter, and with that, I was able to navigate to this one word:  Welcoming.  

Jack provided an environment that made me feel more than just a distant point on the map of friends.  But, more of having reached my destination.  The love and friendship that streamed from him.  This was evident in the way Joyce smiled in his presents, the way he returned that smile.  I could see that Jack and Joyce were such perfect soul mates.  

Jack also shared with me our common genealogy.  We were both descendants of Germans from Russa.  Jack’s research into the Germans from Russia, was a passion of his.  One day Jack brought out a map of an early settlement of Frank Russa.  On this map, were his ancestors and just 3 blocks away were mine.  There was even some hint that our ancestors had married. 

How does one truly measure the success of an individual’s life?  The wealth one achieves, the number of books one has written, the attainment of honors, or simply the number of lives one has touched?  Wealth may dissipate, books may grow old and dusty on shelves, honors may yellow and curl, but when one touches a life in a positive way it will touch future generations. Lasting much, much, longer.

So, I would like to thank you Jack for allowing me to place a pin in the map of your residence as a welcoming destination.  You will remain in my heart throughout my existence and my future generations.


Hello, as most of you are aware, I am Joyce’s oldest daughter, Sha.  When I stand up here and look around the room, I see how many people loved and will miss Jack.  I have known Jack for 27 years, and have learned from him the importance of family.  A friend sent this to me, after her father died.  It touched my heart and I want to pass it on to you.  

“At birth we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side.

As time goes by, other people will board the train, and they will be significant, such as, our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on our journey alone.

Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum Some, however, will go so unnoticed though we don't realize they've vacated their seat.

The train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is, we do not know at which station we, ourselves will step down.

So, we must live in the best way. Love, forgive and offer the best of who we are.  It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life. 

I wish you all a joyful journey.” *

Jack, thank you for teaching me how important it is to love life, love friends, and love family.  We will always be blessed you were a significant force in our lives.  We love you.


For those who don’t know, in April we had a 90year-old birthday party for Dad and I talked about the challenges of being the oldest daughter. I had to break him in with all the firsts—first to date, first to marry, first to have a grandchild. My dad instilled a lot of high standards and expectations both academically and physically. It was challenging at times but I’m proud of the life he helped me live. The last 9 months since his birthday have been very special to me. He wanted to die in his home. Joyce did a great job caring for my dad and making that happen. I finally convinced him that it was OK to be in a wheelchair and took him to the 5 mile Peak to Peak trail. He loved it and talked about the number of hikes we went on as kids. Joyce asked if I could help more during the week with my schedule. I’m not a morning person but thought if I can get up at 7 for golf tee times, I could do this. I loved this time of preparing Dad’s special health concoction smoothie from Jackie, getting him dressed, down to the kitchen island, giving him his coffee, smoothie and the newspaper while he watched Fox News at full volume. It was fun to tease him about Fox News. Sundays and some Saturdays were football. I watched more football this season and his Broncos were SO BAD.  “Dad they can’t even make a first down.” He’d reply, “Dumb million dollar quarterback.” I’d remind him, “No $245 million dollar quarterback.” “Oh my, God” he would reply. 4:30 sharp was the Martini time with more and more tonic added in. We did our football thing even on his last day. He was so good and doing better, I thought, up until the last two days. We had hospice nurse come in and check him where she said he had moved into the next phase and he would pass in the next two weeks. Well, I know my dad said, “Not! Not doing that!” He died in his sleep just after midnight on January 16th, my birthday. I know he chose that to now be our special day. I will miss you, Dad. I love you.


Jack, I will always be wrapped in memories of our love and the friendship we shared together. We experienced many great adventures around the world and throughout our lives. When I close my eyes, I picture the days we spent at the fishing lake. You were the most accomplished, beautiful, fly fisherman I have ever seen. There, we would talk for hours, listen to our favorite music, and sip our martinis while watching yet another picture-perfect sunset. As always, you would get into our fishing boat first, while I would keep it steady at the dock. On this final journey, you took the first step, yet again. I will be joining you, Jack, my love, when you have gotten the boat ready for me. I will love you forever and I know that you are waiting for my heart to join yours.

 I love you, a bushel and a peck,
Joyce


Grandpa Jack,
I will forever miss our weekly get togethers. I so much enjoyed watching Liam (your first great grandson) grow up around you. From the first days of you holding him to cheering for him to crawl, you were always there. You even saw him take those first, wobbly steps down the hall. The thing I will miss the most is watching Liam run to find you when we first stepped in the door. He was so happy to see you that he would talk a million words a minute.  Not long after, I was excited to introduce you to your second great grandson, Aden. Even though it was so short, I will treasure the memories in my heart of you holding him close. As I say goodbye, I will miss the laughter of those visits and the TV volume up way too loud. I'm so grateful for the love you had for us. Grandpa, I love you too. 
-Tarah Roberson 

OBITUARY

Jack Conrad Zeiler

April 23, 1932 – January 16, 2023

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Crown Hill

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