Search Archived Marriage Records
Paul Mark Klingeman
May 5, 2005
Paul Klingeman passed away in peace at the age of 59 on April 29. He was 59 years old.
Paul was born in Winnetka, Ill., on Oct. 1, 1945. In 1971, Paul and his wife Pam, fell, in love with Aspen and made it their new home. Paul and David Schmidt, a longtime friend, opened TOM MIX, a clothing store that became well known in town. He raised his family - son Keith and daughter Carrie - in Aspen, and spent his free time skiing and biking during his 31-year tenure here.
In 2002, Paul moved to Pacific Grove, Calif. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in the spring of 2004. Through the last year, he did not give up hope, faith, friendship or love, sharing this hope and strength by making everyone around him smile and laugh.
Paul is survived by his son Keith Klingeman, daughter Carrie Black, son-in-law Jeremy Black, daughter-in-law Roza Klingeman, grandson Nathaniel Klingeman, twin granddaughters Isabelle and Sarah Klingeman, mother Clara Klingeman, brother Peter (Nancy) Klingeman, sister Rhoda (David) Ewert, brother John (Pat) Klingeman, brother Harry (Linda) Klingeman, and many nieces and nephews.
Memories of Paul Klingeman will be held very dear; he touched and impacted many people's lives. Services will be held in May in Pacific Grove and in Aspen in the autumn.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Paul M. Klingeman Memorial Fund at Monterey County Bank, 542 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950, or to Paul M. Klingeman c/o The Right Door (for assistance with recovery process), P.O. Box 10825, Aspen, CO 81612.
Elizabeth A. Minneci
May 13, 2005
Beth Minneci, a former Aspen Times staffer, died on March 8 in California. She was 37 years old.
Beth was born in Orlando, Fla., and received a degree in journalism there. Prior to moving to Aspen, she did some journalism work in Massachusetts. She worked in page production at The Aspen Times in the late '90s and is remembered by several current staffers. According to her former colleagues, she enjoyed being part of the newspaper world and was always interested in writing during her tenure here. She also loved all The Aspen Times dogs and was a rugby fan.
Beth left the Times to work at the Antarctic Sun, but she came back to Aspen several times to visit friends. She was working as a freelance journalist for NASA at the time of her death.
Beth was passionate about hiking, skiing and hanging out with friends. Her Times co-workers remember her as being very friendly though somewhat reserved at first, spirited and fun to be around. One close friend described her as "brilliant, funny and a great friend."
She is survived by her parents, Ross and Judy Minneci, her brother Michael (Caroline) Minneci, sister Susan (William) Stevenson, aunt Sharon Guest, grandmothers Tina Minneci and Florence Matas, two nieces and one nephew. Funeral services were held March 15 in Florida.
Christine Eriksen Hart
May 18, 2005
Christine Isabella Eriksen Hart was born May 20, 1905, in Aspen, in the Ute Edition neighborhood. She died Jan. 19, 2005, four months short of her 100th birthday.
Christine is the youngest daughter of M.P. "Pete" and Helen "Nell" Eriksen, who preceded her in death, as did a sister, Julia Eriksen, and a brother, Erik Eriksen.
In 1910, Pete moved the family to the ranch on Red Mountain later known as the Eriksen Ranch. Christine attended the Aspen schools, walking three miles there and back every day. She graduated from Aspen High School in 1923, and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for three years. She taught in schools in Hilton Gulch and Clark (both near Steamboat Springs), Owl Creek near Aspen and Durango. She also taught in Superior, Wyo., and Farmington, N.M. Other jobs she held were at the City Carnegie Library and the University of Wyoming's music department. She also was a member of Alpha Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star.
In 1934 she was elected county superintendent of schools for Pitkin County and during this tenure, from 1935-1936, planned and organized the Pitkin County Library with the aid of Dorothy Shaw, Louise Berg, Clarence Coffee, Paul Smith and Helen Collin. The library eventually outgrew its location at the Wheeler Opera House, and now, more than 70 years later, occupies a $3.5 million building on North Mill Street across from the Hotel Jerome. Christine took great pride in being instrumental in the growth of the library and the beautiful building that it is now.
On Dec. 27, 1936, she married Charles D. Hart, who was also born and raised in Aspen, and was Pitkin County assessor until 1943. The couple moved to Laramie, Wyo., where Charles worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until he retired in 1972.
In 1973, Christine and Charles moved to senior citizen housing in Denver, where they lived for 17 years. Charles passed away in 1991. Later, Christine lost the use of her legs and arms and became totally blind and had a serious affliction with her hearing.
Survivors include her cousin Jacqueline Turner, of Placerville, Calif., and nieces and nephews Joyce Kearns, Richard Hart, Sharon Bell, Marilyn Borden, Jack Hart, Keith Hart, Kathryn Garner, Calvin Hart and Charles Hart.
Interment will be in Red Butte Cemetery on Friday, May 20, at 11 a.m. She will be at rest in the family plot, next to her mother, father, sister and brother. A reception following the graveside service will be held at the Aspen Elks Lodge 224.
In place of flowers, please give memorial remembrance to the Salvation Army for the tsunami tragedy.
Maye Fluge
May 23, 2005
Maye Fluge, a longtime Aspenite, passed away on April 18 at Heritage Park Care Facility.
Maye was born on Dec. 18, 1926, in Basel, Switzerland. She came to the United States in the early 1950s, where she briefly resided in New York City. Through some friends she heard about Aspen and moved shortly thereafter.
Maye loved Aspen and was an avid skier. She worked at the Golden Horn restaurant for many years. In 1960, she received her cosmetology license and worked at the Klip and Kurl beauty shop. Maye loved to travel and took a major trip around the world in 1983. After returning from her travels she was employed by Aspen Valley Hospital for years. She was passionate about Native Americans and spent a lot of time in the Southwest visiting reservations.
Maye retired and moved to Glenwood Springs in 1996. Later in life her health would not allow her to travel anymore. She also was passionate about reading.
Maye will be missed by her friends. She requested no funeral services.
Ermanno Masini
May 25, 2005
Ermanno Masini died Friday, May 20. There will be a memorial service 4 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Aspen.
Ermanno was executive director of The St. Regis hotel and the Pierre in New York City. He came to Aspen and opened the Abetone Ristorante.
He is survived by his wife, Aldas, sisters Anne and Lidia, brother-in-law Harold, and mother-in-law, Stephanie.
Memorial arrangements are entrusted to the Farnum-Holt Funeral Home in Glenwood Springs.
John R. Vavrek
June 22, 2005
Longtime Aspen resident John R. Vavrek died June 15. He was 58 years old.
John was born in Norwalk, Conn., on May 14, 1947, and was raised in Westport, Conn. He was a full-time Aspen resident since 1970. John was a steel worker and was injured in an accident at the Tri-state Power Plant in Craig in 1975. Since then he used a wheelchair.
Survivors include James Vavrek Jr. of Basalt and Jerry and Larry Vavrek of Newtown, Conn.
Memorial services will take place at Greens Farm in Westport, Conn. A memorial service in Aspen will be announced at a future date.
William M. Kasper
June 24, 2005
Col. William M. Kasper died of cancer while surrounded by family and friends June 14 at his home in Carbondale. He was 88.
Kasper grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1940, just a few days before he married Jacqueline Prichard. He then served 23 years in the Army and fought in World War II and the Korean War.
Kasper became a full colonel when he was 38 and will be remembered for his integrity.
"It was just amazing how the men under him loved him and respected him and looked up to him, " said his wife of 65 years, Jacqueline Kasper.
Kasper earned a Silver Star for bravery and four Bronze Stars, in addition to a Purple Heart. He was honored for liberating the town of Barr, France, during World War II, but kept his honors and awards private.
"He never made a big deal out of any of that, " Jacqueline Kasper said. "He didn't make anything public - he'd say, 'I was just doing my duty.' "
Because of his military career, Kasper and his family moved 33 times in 25 years, including a stint in Aspen in 1960. He retired permanently to Carbondale in 1988.
He enjoyed skiing, mountain climbing, horseback riding, gardening and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He will be remembered for his remarkable intelligence and quick wit.
"He made his whole family smile and laugh, " Jacqueline Kasper said. "It used to worry me terribly when he had to give briefings and talks in the Army and he'd make jokes."
He spent his last days smiling and laughing with family and old friends. His children count him as both a father and a best friend.
"I went through 52 years of my life with him and I never had any complaints, " said daughter Betty Severy. "He always brightened my day."
Kasper was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Chuck Severy, and grandson, Christopher Severy. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline and his four children, Bill Kasper, Lewis Kasper, Robin Wood and Betty Severy. Other survivors include 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Kasper's life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at his home, 128 Ronce Lane, in Carbondale.
James Angus Philpott
June 24, 2005
James Angus Philpott died on June 14. He was 58 years old.
James, known as Gus, was the eldest son of the late Dr. James and Susanne Philpott of Denver and Aspen. He lived in Aspen from 1970-1987, and worked at Aspen Valley Hospital for much of that time.
Gus was an avid volunteer and supporter of the Barbara Davis Diabetic Center and a volunteer at the Children with Aids Center of Denver. He was a great supporter of environmental causes, organ donation and human rights.
He is survived by his siblings, Susan Philpott Orda of Prescott, Ariz., George S. Philpott of Durango and Larry Philpott of Denver, as well as two nieces and four nephews. Gus was loved and will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gus Philpott Memorial Fund at the Barbara Davis Diabetic Center. Mail to Children's Diabetes Foundation of Denver, 777 Frant St., Suite 302, Denver, CO 80203.
Sally Moore Ransom
June 26, 2005
Sally Moore Ransom, 67, of Lakewood, died June 12.
Sally was born and raised in Aspen. She attended the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in music education. Sally taught music for 35 years.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; two daughters, Diane Palazzo and Karen Ransom; her mother, Alberta Moore, of Aspen; sister Jane Geer of Phoenix; brother Tom Moore, of Aspen, and three grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Thursday, June 16, in Wheat Ridge.
Ben Anton Van der Werf
June 26, 2005
Ben Anton Van der Werf died peacefully on June 20 at his home in Park City, Utah, surrounded by his family. He was 73 years old.
Ben was born in the Netherlands and moved to the United States in 1969 as a transplant surgeon, establishing kidney transplant programs in the Netherlands, Florida and Arizona. He traveled extensively, promoting his ideas for a national health care program. His greatest passion was sailing.
Ben lived in Snowmass Village for the past seven years as a full-time resident and about five years before that part time. He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He is survived by his wife, Mieke, of 46 years; daughter Patty; sons Guy, Willem and Quinten; and grandchildren Florence, Ben, Annika, Owen, Tessa, Nicolas and Emma.
A memorial service celebrating Ben's life was held Friday, June 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park City.
Sina May Tekoucich
July 4, 2005
Sina May "Pepper" Tekoucich died on June 27. She was 80.
Pepper was born on Jan. 14, 1925, in Grand Junction, to William E. and Sina Eliza (Parsons) Pepper. She was raised in Los Angeles. While she was still a teenager, she moved to Aspen and graduated from Pitkin County High School.
She married Aspen native George "Buttons" Tekoucich on June 10, 1946, in Aspen. The family moved to Glenwood Springs in 1958, and George and Pepper moved to Rifle after George retired. They lived there for 10 years, then moved back to Glenwood Springs. At the time of her death, Pepper was a resident at the Veterans Nursing Home in Rifle.
She was well-known in the area for her cooking and catering talents. She tended bar in Aspen at the Hotel Jerome and also at the Golden Horn in its early years. She worked at the Hotel Colorado and the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool while living in Glenwood Springs.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Laurie Lee Green.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years; daughters Linde Carole (Mike) Fromm, of Helena, Mont., Suzy Jo (Butch) Puff, of New Castle, and Jorgeann Guccini, of Rifle; and grandchildren Tim (Anita) Fromm, of Edwards, Calif., Callie (Matt) Milios, of Seattle, Johanna Puff, of Aurora, Sarah (Jabon) McMichael, of Arvada, Nichole Guccini, of Folsom, Calif., and Traviss Guccini, of Silt.
At her request, there will be no services.
