Obituary for Francis "Jr" VanGieson
To view this service via live-stream, please copy this web address and paste it into your web browser:
https://river-of-life.freeonlinechurch.com/live
Francis Elwood Van Gieson Jr. was born November 29, 1934 in Alamosa, CO. He went home to his heavenly family on March 8, 2022. He was the first-born son of Francis E. Van Gieson and Irene Mary (Arndt) Van Gieson. Kenneth, Shirley, and John followed shortly afterward to complete the Colorado Van Gieson clan.
JR grew up in Cheney, KS until age 13 when the family moved to Blanca, CO. He graduated from Blanca High School in May, 1952. Even though he was only 5’10”, Dad was fast and scrappy, making him an excellent basketball player. He and Andy Mang were a force to be reckoned with on the court.
JR met the love of his life, Lorene Kay Morgan in January, 1956 and they were married May 5, 1956 in Raton, NM after a 3-day engagement, much to the chagrin of Grandma Hazel who rose to the occasion with a full trousseau and wedding dinner hosted by Granddad’s friend, Eddie Azar who owned a restaurant in Raton. Afterward, as they drove off to start their life together, Mom started shedding her crinolines. Dad was heard to remark that anyone following them was surely getting a show, with her bare legs flying into the air each time she shimmed out of one to throw it into the backseat. Thus started 65 years of fun, feistiness, and pure joy.
They moved around a bit as Dad tried to find his niche and still feed a growing family. In Salina, KS, he met a man who introduced him to the construction industry which became his calling; fascinating him for his whole life.
The family moved back to Alamosa in 1961. After working for several construction companies, JR started his own business, Van Gieson Construction in 1970, building many of the homes found in the Forbes subdivision outside of Ft. Garland. A firm believer in family, everyone, including Mom, Grandpa, his brothers, and us kids worked for the company along with a lot of others that Dad mentored. We used to laugh that Dad was running the Van Gieson School of Construction.
JR is survived by his wife, Kay Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, children; Roni (Michael) Wisdom, Alamosa, CO, Greg (Kathy) Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, Scott (Sharlene) Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, Rochelle (Kent) Ruark, Alamosa, CO, Eric (Donielle) Van Gieson, Black Forest, CO , and Annie (Beva Leyerly) Durham, Cripple Creek, CO. Grandchildren; Jared Carr, Midland, TX, Nathan (Katrina) Carr, Poncha Springs, CO; Chelsea (Chris) Allington, Alamosa, CO, Scott (Vanessa) Van Gieson, Castle Rock, CO, Vanessa (Matt) Sullivan, Alamosa, CO, Chanice Enequist, San Antonio, TX, and Riley Van Gieson, Black Forest, CO; great grandchildren, Cassius, Tristen, Nick, and Trinity, Asher and Adelyn, Lucas, Harper, Willow, and Cruz, Xander and Keira, Patty Van Gieson, sister-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
JR was preceded in death by his parents, Elwood and Irene Van Gieson, brothers, Kenneth and John Van Gieson, sister, Shirley (Van Gieson) Mock, sister-in-law, June Van Gieson, son in law, Michael L. Carr, grandsons, Jason Morgan Carr and Shea Francis Van Gieson, and adopted son William (Bill) S. Duncan.
A viewing will be held at the Rogers Mortuary in Alamosa from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday, March 15th. Services will be at the River of Life Church in Alamosa at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 16th. Interment will immediately follow at the Alamosa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the San Luis Valley Cancer Relief Fund. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is in care of the arrangements.
https://river-of-life.freeonlinechurch.com/live
Francis Elwood Van Gieson Jr. was born November 29, 1934 in Alamosa, CO. He went home to his heavenly family on March 8, 2022. He was the first-born son of Francis E. Van Gieson and Irene Mary (Arndt) Van Gieson. Kenneth, Shirley, and John followed shortly afterward to complete the Colorado Van Gieson clan.
JR grew up in Cheney, KS until age 13 when the family moved to Blanca, CO. He graduated from Blanca High School in May, 1952. Even though he was only 5’10”, Dad was fast and scrappy, making him an excellent basketball player. He and Andy Mang were a force to be reckoned with on the court.
JR met the love of his life, Lorene Kay Morgan in January, 1956 and they were married May 5, 1956 in Raton, NM after a 3-day engagement, much to the chagrin of Grandma Hazel who rose to the occasion with a full trousseau and wedding dinner hosted by Granddad’s friend, Eddie Azar who owned a restaurant in Raton. Afterward, as they drove off to start their life together, Mom started shedding her crinolines. Dad was heard to remark that anyone following them was surely getting a show, with her bare legs flying into the air each time she shimmed out of one to throw it into the backseat. Thus started 65 years of fun, feistiness, and pure joy.
They moved around a bit as Dad tried to find his niche and still feed a growing family. In Salina, KS, he met a man who introduced him to the construction industry which became his calling; fascinating him for his whole life.
The family moved back to Alamosa in 1961. After working for several construction companies, JR started his own business, Van Gieson Construction in 1970, building many of the homes found in the Forbes subdivision outside of Ft. Garland. A firm believer in family, everyone, including Mom, Grandpa, his brothers, and us kids worked for the company along with a lot of others that Dad mentored. We used to laugh that Dad was running the Van Gieson School of Construction.
JR is survived by his wife, Kay Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, children; Roni (Michael) Wisdom, Alamosa, CO, Greg (Kathy) Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, Scott (Sharlene) Van Gieson, Alamosa, CO, Rochelle (Kent) Ruark, Alamosa, CO, Eric (Donielle) Van Gieson, Black Forest, CO , and Annie (Beva Leyerly) Durham, Cripple Creek, CO. Grandchildren; Jared Carr, Midland, TX, Nathan (Katrina) Carr, Poncha Springs, CO; Chelsea (Chris) Allington, Alamosa, CO, Scott (Vanessa) Van Gieson, Castle Rock, CO, Vanessa (Matt) Sullivan, Alamosa, CO, Chanice Enequist, San Antonio, TX, and Riley Van Gieson, Black Forest, CO; great grandchildren, Cassius, Tristen, Nick, and Trinity, Asher and Adelyn, Lucas, Harper, Willow, and Cruz, Xander and Keira, Patty Van Gieson, sister-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
JR was preceded in death by his parents, Elwood and Irene Van Gieson, brothers, Kenneth and John Van Gieson, sister, Shirley (Van Gieson) Mock, sister-in-law, June Van Gieson, son in law, Michael L. Carr, grandsons, Jason Morgan Carr and Shea Francis Van Gieson, and adopted son William (Bill) S. Duncan.
A viewing will be held at the Rogers Mortuary in Alamosa from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday, March 15th. Services will be at the River of Life Church in Alamosa at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 16th. Interment will immediately follow at the Alamosa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the San Luis Valley Cancer Relief Fund. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is in care of the arrangements.