Vernon Franklin Vanzo

Eighty-nine years young, Vernon Franklin Vanzo passed peacefully into the Lord’s embrace on December 22, 2025, surrounded by the loving arms of his family. He drew one deep, final breath, releasing it as though stepping into the crisp, mile-high morning air of his beloved Colorado mountains. And then—peace. He returned home to the God he had always found waiting among the pines.

Born in Denver, Colorado, on December 5, 1936, to Alfred and Leonora Vanzo, Vernon grew up in Lakewood, where the rugged beauty of the Rockies first called to his soul. As a boy, he earned his place in the Boy Scouts, collecting badges with the same steady determination that would define his life. At the tender age of ten, he faced a fierce trial: polio struck, confining him to the hospital for three long months. Yet Vernon survived—his spirit unbroken, his love for the outdoors only deepened by the gift of second chances. He carried that quiet strength forward, a testament to resilience that echoed through every trail he walked and every river he fished.

Graduating from Lakewood High School in 1955, he pursued studies in Forestry at Colorado State University before answering the call to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Army in January 1959, earning several badges, medals, and honors during his dedicated service, and was honorably discharged in December 1964.

After his military service, Vernon began a fulfilling career with Western Electric, where he worked as a skilled teletype repairman—maintaining and repairing the electromechanical teletypewriters that kept vital communications flowing in an era of emerging telecommunications technology—until his well-deserved retirement in 1991.

But it was the wild places that truly fed his heart. Vernon lived for the hunt, the patient wait in the high country, the tug of a trout on the line, the crunch of snow beneath his boots, and the vast silence under endless skies. He needed no grand cathedral; God spoke to him in the whispering pines, the rushing rivers, and the wide-open expanse above. The mountains became his sanctuary, the lakes his living Psalms.

An avid outdoorsman, Vernon cherished hunting and fishing trips with his brother and close friends, including memorable salmon fishing adventures in Kenai, Alaska. He absolutely loved guiding hunters for turkey and elk, sharing his deep knowledge of the land while supporting numerous conservation groups dedicated to preserving wildlife for future generations. In retirement, when not out on the hunt, he lent his steady hand as a ranch hand and hunting guide for longtime friends Frank and Sue in Walsenburg, Colorado—continuing to live the life he loved among the ranch, ridgelines, and open plains.

More than a guide to hunters who sought his wisdom in the backcountry, Vernon was the steady compass for his family—Dad to his daughters, Gramps to his grandchildren, and Great Gramps to the little ones—leading with remarkable patience, quiet humor, and profound insight. He taught them to listen to the land, to respect its gifts, and to face each day with gratitude.

He is survived by his devoted daughters, Corine and Geraldine; son-in-law Doug; grandson Mitch; great-granddaughters Sofia, Isabella, and Falyn; and great-grandson Maverick. Preceded in death by his siblings Louise Reif and Donald Vanzo, Vernon leaves a legacy as enduring as the peaks he loved. The paths he blazed, the stories he shared, and the love he gave will continue to guide the generations who follow, with his spirit walking beside them still—one sure step at a time—into the wide-open sky.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Vernon by spending time in nature, casting a line, pursuing a hunt responsibly, supporting wildlife conservation, or simply breathing in the fresh mountain air he cherished so deeply.