Carolyn Engelken

Carolyn Ann Engelken (Zimmerman) left this earth and all who loved her on June 7, 2022. She led an athletic, long, happy life and wanted all who knew her to carry on with the optimism and enthusiasm she showed us every day.  Many people looked up to her and she led a life worth admiring.

Carolyn was born in Eudora, Kansas, the youngest of 4 children. The family moved to Lawrence when she was a teenager and she worked at Weavers department store from the age of 14 through college. While earning a degree in Physical Education at Kansas University she made lifelong friends being a part of the Tri-Delta sorority. She moved to Denver to serve as a PE teacher at South High School and met her husband, Edgar. They were married for 62 years and had two children, Jim and Patrice.

Carolyn became very involved with the League of Women Voters where she served on a national program committee studying the European Common Market and learning about the aftermath of WW2.  She stayed active in the League for over 10 years, during which time she earned a master's degree in higher education and worked at Arapahoe Community College. During this time, she expanded her passion for running, Nordic skiing, playing and teaching tennis and hiking the Colorado mountains.  She remained very active in the political process, especially during elections. Carolyn and Edgar had different takes on politics though each retained a great deal of respect for each other. Carolyn laughed when people called her union with Edgar a "mixed marriage".

Twenty years after yet another master's degree in Kinesiology, she retired from Arapahoe Community College, went to work at Tattered Cover Bookstore and immediately rejoined League.

She had been escorting at the Planned Parenthood clinic for 10 years so when she became active again, it was a natural fit for her to represent the Colorado League in the Protect Family Protect Choice coalition of 18 groups who have a firm belief in reproductive choice. Through that, she became a part of the state League's Legislative Action Committee. She recently won the Suffragist Award, a lifetime achievement award for her commitment and work with League.

Throughout her life, Carolyn was a joiner. She ran with the Colorado Columbines, hiked with the Over the Hill Gang, had season tickets to the Denver Symphony, the Center for the Performing Arts and the Natural History Museum. Her adoring granddaughters spent many happy hours with her seeing all that Denver had to offer.

Carolyn’s strong political beliefs and lifelong love of learning will be her greatest legacies. She attended adult learning classes offered through Denver University well into her 80’s. An absolute minimalist, she preferred to spend her money and time on “doing” rather than “owning”. Her way to bond with people was to invite them for a walk and talk, something she enjoyed with so many people until the very end.

She will be remembered as a wonderful mother, friend, influencer and community builder.

Survivors include son Jim (Nancy), daughter Patrice (Dave) and granddaughters Kira, Renee and Elisa. Hers was a life well lived.