April Dawn Gates

April Dawn Gates passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, surrounded by the love of her family after a long, hard-fought battle with breast cancer.

April was born in Seattle, Washington, to loving parents Paul and Virginia Netz. First and foremost, she was a dedicated mother. She treasured her son and embraced every moment with him dearly. As a beloved wife and mother, her family was most important to April. She enjoyed spending time outdoors camping with her family and their various vacations throughout her life. As a dedicated mother and wife, April was most relaxed and enjoyed any time and place she was with her family. She also enjoyed returning home to Seattle to visit her mother and be in more familiar surroundings. A few of her favorite things were Red Vines, Vanilla Lattes with a straw of course, and Swedish fish.

April received her Registered Nurse degree in Seattle and moved to Colorado several years later. She used her RN degree for many years in long-term care, driven by her compassion for the residents and the staff. She cherished her time as a Director of Nursing, MDS Coordinator, and a host of other positions in which she dedicated countless hours towards the betterment of residents’ lives at Orchard Park Healthcare Center in Centennial, Colorado.

April had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh and was a best friend to everyone she met. She had said in the past that she worked so hard because of her passion to “be there” for others. She genuinely loved those in need and was a shining example of a true Servant Leader. Her life was a living example of the Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.”

April is survived by her mother Virginia Netz of Lynnwood, Washington; soul mate and loving husband of 27 years Don and beloved son Stevan of Littleton, Colorado; brothers Kent Netz and wife Michelle of Gilbert, Arizona, Chris Netz and wife Donna of Kenmore, Washington, and her cherished dog Amber along with numerous extended family members and friends. 

A Memorial Service to celebrate April’s life will be held on Friday, January 12th, 2024, at 2:00 pm. at Horan & McConaty Funeral Services located at 3101 S. Wadsworth Boulevard (North of US 285, Hampden) Lakewood, CO 80227. A reception to follow. To honor her memory, we ask that you come to the service dressed in PINK.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation to the Breast Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org in April’s name and, as she would say, “Fight like a girl!”