Arlene G. VanKleeck

Arlene…a wife and mother…strong and loving. Arlene Geraldine (DeBettignies) VanKleeck, entered this world on July 18, 1924 in the small Iowa town of New Hampton. She was raised on a farm along with 8 brothers and sisters by her father John and mother Margaret. She became quite adept at all the necessary home making skills….cooking, canning, baking, sewing, and the farm chores. As a young girl she loved riding horses and playing basketball in high school. She met her sweetheart, Milan VanKleeck, at a neighboring farm during an oat threshing event and their first date was to a dance at a local tavern in Bassett, Iowa. They later became husband and wife and that beautiful union celebrated 70 happy years of togetherness October 31, 2012. Arlene made many lifetime friendships while Mike served in the Navy during WWII. Her early married years were spent in Norfolk, Virginia where she worked as a waitress, and then worked for Sears Roebuck in Chicago, Illinois while Mike was stationed there. Many times she told stories about the hurricanes in Norfolk and of her riding the street cars in Chicago. She made a most excellent, flakey pie crust and fantastic yeast bread, cinnamon Christmas coffee cake. A very gifted seamstress who often made many articles of clothing for her 6 young children and grandchildren. In 1963 she moved with Mike and children to Denver, Colorado where she worked and retired as an LPN from the geriatric care profession of which she was very passionate. The fun times began after retirement as she provided day care for many of her grandchildren who all created a tight bond with ""Gramma"". Mauve was her favorite color, she loved roses and her rose garden, and prayed the rosary nightly. Mom positively and emotionally survived breast cancer 27 years ago. Her closeness with God and her social network were a tremendous factor. Mom enjoyed watching the Denver Nuggets play but… her all-time favorite team was her Denver Broncos…she watched them faithfully until the day she passed. This very petite, proud, strong but gentle woman mothered five daughters, Sheryl Sadler, Sandra (Dave) Thompson, Sue (Dave) Hiegel, Kathlyn (Jimi) Ruck, Jr., Linda (Lee) Valverde, and one son James. Loving Grandmother, care giver and mentor to Shain, Shelley, Corinne, Stacey, Laurie, JerriLynn, Ami, Carly, Nate, Kallie, Devon, Lindsay, Dylan, Rod, Julie, Michelle, Chris, Matt, Andy (T), Tracy, and Andy (R). Loving Great-Grandmother to Matthew, Madison, Grace, Faith, Darian, Henry, Jacob, Owen, Brittany, Kara, Jessie, Ashlee, Cory, Sophia, Kole, Koen, Gehrig, Canon, Addisyn, Alfie, Stevie, Morgan, Taber and Clara. Great-Great Grandmother to Xavara and Jace. After 90 years on earth, Arlene passed peacefully at her own home on January 11, under the tender care of Optum Hospice and was surrounded by her large family throughout her final journey. Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret DeBettignies, her siblings, Olivia Roethler, Sylvester DeBettignies, Magdalene Hackman, George DeBettignies, Imelda Zipse, Florentine DeBettignies, James DeBettignies, Margaret Mae Cero, and her only son James Milan VanKleeck. There will be a Visitation on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 5:00 PM and a Rosary will follow at 7:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80227. Funeral Mass is on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 10:00 AM at All Saints Catholic Church, 2559 South Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80219. Entombment is at Mount Olivet Cemetery on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 12:00 PM with a reception following at All Saints Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Arlene's memory to: Optum Hospice of Denver, 6455 S. Yosemite St., 6th Floor, Englewood, CO 80111. Please share memories of Arlene and condolences with her family by signing the online guestbook below