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Obituary for Patricia Ann DeBever
Patricia Ann "Pat" DeBever crossed her earthly finish line on May 28th, 2017 at Denver Hospice from complications of dementia. She was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Gordon and Eleanor Klingbeil. She was the 2nd of 4 children. Her early years were spent working on the family farm. She graduated from Central High School in South Bend to then work in the banking industry. Being gifted in athletic abilities, Pat spent time in Chicago where she trained in gymnastics, ballet and dance classes. In 1955, she accepted a banking job in Colorado Springs. There, she met her future husband Bruce DeBever at a youth group dance in 1958 and began dating. They married in Colorado Springs and shortly after, moved to Southern California. Pat continued her studies, graduating from Rio Hondo Community College with an A.A. and Medical Assistant degree. She worked in a pediatric office for five years while obtaining certification as an aerobics instructor. She loved the fitness industry and was offered a job at the Y.M.C.A. in Whittier, CA. where she taught jazzercise, aerobics and fitness classes for women before it was a popular workout form. In the 70’s she was a competitive runner in many 10k, half and full marathons over the years.
Her favorite 10K race was the Bolder Boulder and favorite marathon was the Pikes Peak Ascent race. She often placed in the top 10 for her age group for both races. Drawn to the rugged beauty of Colorado, Bruce and Pat moved to Telluride where she continued her love of the outdoors and athletic lifestyle. She was employed by Mesa National Bank as a teller. She enjoyed the social interaction with the town’s people and was awarded “Employee of the Month” for her ability to provide “outstanding productivity and customer service.” She continued working at the bank through 2005 at which time she “officially retired.”
Her love of fitness and athletics touched many. In 1981 she joined the Peak Busters, an organization dedicated to supporting all women running Pikes Peak in reaching their athletic goals. Her closest friendships and memories came from her years as a Peak Buster.
Though Pat continued running, she discovered the joy and freedom of cycling. Over time, cycling became her new athletic activity. She loved the non-competitive century rides of the 80’s and 90’s. She trained for and completed many of the week long “Ride the Rockies” and “Bicycle Tour of Colorado” events held each summer. Some of her favorite rides were Lizard Head Pass and Dallas Divide out of Telluride.
In 1990 she entered and won Bicycling Magazine’s “Best Cycling Legs” competition for her age group (40-55). When asked, “What’s your favorite part of cycling?” she answered, “Overtaking people”.
Pat’s other interests included tending to her many flower gardens over the years. She had a magical green thumb for anything botanical and learned to appreciate the wildlife that loved her gardens too. She was content watching the elk and deer herds and looked forward to seeing their babies in the springtime. She enjoyed jeep rides over the high mountain passes with her husband Bruce at the wheel. She was always game for getting outdoors and being in nature with family, friends, or going solo.
She was an inspiring mother to her seven children and thirteen grandchildren. She was drawn to the high energy of children, simply to watch them at play or sometimes kneeling down to meet them eye-to-eye. She said she felt very “connected and content” with children making her an often sought-after grandmother for babysitting.
Pat remained physically active until the youthful age of 82. She continued her fitness by walking for 1-2 hours per day until 3 months before passing. Her heart and Soul were surrounded by the beauty of Telluride, the only place she truly felt “at home” and where she wishes to return.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years Bruce DeBever and her seven children Joanie DeBever and husband Renny Glover; Mike DeBever and wife Dawn Bollman; Bill DeBever, wife Carrie and son Bruce, Gordon DeBever, wife Renae and two children Madison and Keegan, Mary Lasken, husband Bob and four children Halie, Megan, Chase, and Kate; Steve DeBever, wife Alex and four children Taylor, McKenna, Riley and Alexis; and Brian, wife Kate and children Christian and Georgie, Pat also survived by her sisters Joan Wolfer and Joyce Reynolds.
She is preceded in death by her brother Jim.
• IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, the family asks donations to be made to the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (https://tellurideadaptivesports.org/) or to the World Wildlife Fund in Pat’s name.
• A memorial mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Golden, Colorado will be announced in the near future.
• A Celebration of Life and burial will occur in the fall next year 2018 in Telluride, Colorado at the Lone Tree Cemetery.