Donald Clancy Abell

Donald Clancy Abell (Don), 59, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2017 in Denver, CO following a courageous battle with cancer. Don was born June 27, 1957 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank California to Ralph and Diana (Dayhoff) Abell. At the age of three, Don's family moved to Hobart, IN for eight years where his dad and grandpa sparked his lifelong passion for fishing. In 1969 the family relocated to Costa Mesa, CA and eventually to Anaheim, CA. In his youth, Don's love of the beach was apparent in his regular body surfing at Newport, Laguna, and Huntington Beaches. He loved spending summers at the Colorado River water skiing and camping with his close group of friends. Don graduated from Canyon High School, after attending Vista del Rio Middle School, both in Anaheim Hills. He attended Mesa Verde Elementary in Costa Mesa and George Earl Elementary in Hobart, IN. Don spent his early adult life working with his father in his pre-press/printing business, The Half-Tone Shop in Orange, CA. Don met his true love and best friend Teri (Neitzke) while working at the Half-Tone Shop. Don and Teri married in New Hampton, IA July 4, 1987. This worked out great for Don because he could tease Teri every year that ""they used to call it Independence Day"". Don and Teri started their early married life in Torrance and eventually Ontario California where they enjoyed camping and weekend road trips. Timothy (Tim) was born in 1993 and the Abells moved to beautiful Colorado in 1994. Lauren joined the family in 1996. While in Colorado, Don worked at American Envelope and Colorline Photographics. To the delight of his kids and Teri, in 2003 Don began focusing his time as a full time stay at home dad. Don loved fishing and often could be seen in his float tube on Aurora or Quincy Reservoirs on the weekends. Don will be remembered for his kind, gentle nature, dry sense of humor, selflessness, and complete devotion to his family. His quick wit, and wide smile could bring a whole room to tears of laughter. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Abell, his mother, Diana (Dayhoff) Abell. He is survived by his wife Teri, children Tim Abell and Lauren Abell; and sisters Kathryn (Jim) Franklin of Murrieta CA, Cynthia (Cindy) Sharpe of Denver CO and Barbara (Barbie) Abell of Erbil. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 10th at 2:00PM at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 11500 E. Iliff Avenue, Aurora CO. A reception will be held immediately after service at A-Town Pizza 10600 E Iliff Ave, Aurora CO. Please share your memories of Don and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org