United States High School Yearbooks by County
Norbert J. Commes
Norbert J. Commes passed away on Friday, July 29, in Arvada.Commes was born on Aug. 7, 1926. He was one of seven children born to Frank Henry and Barbara Commes. He served in World War II and was married to Nancy Ann Fynbu on Nov. 18, 1961.Commes was employed at the Climax Molybdenum Mine prior to its closing.He is survived by six daughters, Patricia Martinez, Pauline (Michael) Curnutt, Geraldine Commes, Darlene (Edward) Samaniego, Linda (Andrew) Dunning and Mary (Tim) McRoberts; and four sons, Norbert (Angela) Commes, Michael (Theresa) Commes, John (Patricia) Commes, Henry (Jackie) Commes; 20 grandchildren; and five sisters, Ramona Ames, Marie Schmidt, Rosalie Heagle, Evelyn Samson and Kathleen Gleich.He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; youngest son, Marcus; brother, Frank; granddaughter, Rixley McRoberts and grandson, Marcus.A memorial service will be held at the Annunciation Church on Monday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m.
Edith M. (Malmgren) Long
Edith M. (Malmgren) Long was born Jan.13, 1917, to Gus and Ellen Malmgren and died Aug. 6, 2005. She is survived by her dear sister Ellen Jackson of Leadville. She is also survived by four children: Jean of Lakewood; John (Kay) of Conifer; Judy (Bill) of Phoenix and Ted (Diane) of Greeley;14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.Services were held Aug. 13 at Highlands Lutheran Church in Denver. Interment was at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Helen L. Skala
Helen L. Skala died Sunday, Aug. 7, at the age of 82. Rosary will be held Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. Both will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church.
Helen Louise Skala
On Sunday, Aug. 7, just as the sun rose, Helen Louise Skala died at the age of 82. She was born in Leadville on May 14, 1923. Her parents were the late Thomas and Rose Mary (Finnigan) Bowen.Skala went to school in Leadville, graduating from Leadville High School. On Jan. 20, 1951, she married William “Bill” Skala and together they had three children. Helen Skala owned and operated the Molly Brown Restaurant and also ran the Cooper Hill lunchroom. She and her husband were partners in the beverage business for many years. Skala was the author of two books about local history. She enjoyed writing poetry and books and especially loved polka dancing. Skala was an ardent supporter of her community and faithfully attended most all Leadville events.To say Skala loved Leadville and loved living here would be an understatement. She enjoyed all her friends here and was especially interested in the local history of the area.But what Skala loved most was her family – her beloved husband Bill.Family and friends say they always will remember her beautiful smile and sparkling blue eyes. Skala was a longtime member of Annunciation Catholic
Church and also belonged to the Alter and Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters, the Leadville Historical Society and the Democratic Central Committee. She was on the board of directors of the Matchless Mine and served on the Leadville Planning and Zoning Board. She was also an active member of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.Skala was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Rose Bowen, sisters Lillian (Bill) Schroeder, Marion (Tom) Bone and Marguerite Bowen, and her brothers Thomas and Robert Bowen. Skala is survived by her husband of 54 years; their children, Rosemary (Ken) Pettus, Thomas (Deann) Skala and Peggy (Louis) LaCome, a special niece, Roseanne (Darrel) Landis; grandchildren, Amanda Perkins, Dan (Joann) Pettus, Dawn Skala and Amie and Kyle LaCome. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Morgan Perkins, one sister, Izabel (Mike) McBreen, and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.The rosary was recited by Lilly Vigil on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m., and Mass of Christian Burial was Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m., both at Annunciation Catholic Church. Father Jay Jung, Father Leo Smith, Father Mike Kerrigan and Father Jimmy Kane officiated, and Joan Dawson and Sister Mary Clarita sang accompanied by Jean Elliott. Eulogies were given by Neil V. Reynolds, Paul Copper, Janice O’Leary (godchild) and Joe McBreen (nephew).Servers were Amie and Kyle LaCome. Pallbearers were Tom Skala, Louis LaCome, Ken Pettus, Darrel Landis, Dan Pettus and Jim McBreen. Honorary Pallbearers were Ozzie Lani, Dave Clune, Dr. Jack Brookshire, Mark Allen, Bill Kerrigan and Vern Simmon.Skala was laid to rest in Elks Rest Cemetery followed by a reception at the Leadville Elks Lodge. Arrangements were handled by Bailey Funeral Home.Those wishing may make memorial contributions to either the Catholic Community of Leadville, 609 Poplar St., Leadville, CO 80461, or to Helping Hands, P.O. Box 8, Leadville, CO 80461.
Glen Preston Wilson
Dorothea Helen Wilson
Glen Preston Wilson and Dorothea “Dot” Helen Wilson, both 91, of Grand Junction, passed away at Mantey Heights Care Center, within 28 hours of each other, after 68 years of marriage. They never wanted to be parted from the day they fell in love.Glen Wilson was born from the union of Charles and Myrtle Cline Wilson, in Etzicom, Alberta, Canada. He spent the first nine years of his life in Canada where his family was homesteading. The rest of his childhood was spent in Pontiac, Mich. where he graduated from high school. He served in the Michigan National Guard from 1932 to 1937. Dot Mackey was born from the union of Andrew and Edith (Kellogg) Mackey in Milford, Michigan on August 3, 1914. She graduated from Pontiac High School and pursued nursing training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she received her degree and became a registered nurse.Dot Mackey and Glen Wilson were married on January 3, 1937, and moved to Grand Junction in 1944 where they became members of the First United Methodist Church. Glen Wilson was also a member of several Masonic Orders, especially proud receiving Knights of the York Cross of Honour. Dot Wilson was a member of White Shrine, Social Order of the Beauceant and Amaranth. Glen Wilson’s profession was accounting, and he worked for U.S. Vanadium and Minerals Engineering Company in that capacity in Grand Junction. He was president and co-owner of Sentinel Printing Company for several years before retiring. Dot Wilson worked many years locally as a nurse before retiring, and then she enjoyed gardening and developing her rose garden. She loved to crochet and knit. Glen Wilson loved to tinker in his wood shop. He also had an avid interest in geology. They spent many of their later retirement days playing card games and doing crossword puzzles together.Glen Wilson was a self-educated man of integrity and gentle strength. He will be remembered by his droll and kind sense of humor. Dot Wilson was known to be well-spoken, caring and very organized. A fond memory of the family is how she would laugh so hard at one of Glen Wilson’s quips, the tears would flow. They are survived by their son Brian (Janis) Wilson of Leadville; daughter Glenda (David) Dunn of Leadville; daughter Charlene Springsteel of Grand Junction; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.Arrangements for a memorial are pending. Memorial contributions may be made to Mantey Heights Rehabilitation Center, 2825 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506, specifically for improvement to the staff “Break Room”; or to Shriner’s Burn Institute, 610 Texas Avenue, Galveston, TX, 77550-2788.
Boyd “Rod” S. Rodaway
Boyd “Rod” S. Rodaway, 74, died on Aug. 16. He is survived by his loving wife Dolores “Dee” Mae Rodaway; sons Kerry and wife Doreen, Sean and wife Veronica, and step-son Ken Forrest; brothers Joy of Littleton, Keith of Nebraska, and Gene of Denver; sister Ruth Rudolf of Wyoming; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.Rodaway belonged to the Elks and Eagles, and is survived by friends there as well as friends too numerous to name in Buena Vista, Leadville, Twin Lakes, Colorado Springs and Denver. Donations can be sent in his memory to: Hospice of Metro Denver, 501 S. Cherry St., Suite 700, Denver, CO 80246.
