Donna Helen Vandenbos

Donna H. (Meagher) Vandenbos, age 80, passed away peacefully in her home on December 22. 2018. Donnas was born on August 24, 1938 in Brighton, Colorado to Walter Francis Meagher and Lucille Berniece Bush, however she grew up in Keenesburg, Colorado. Donna married her husband of nearly fifty years, the late Leland Gene Vandenbos, on December 27, 1959. During that time, they lived in Greeley, Loveland, Naturita, Breckenridge, Northglenn and Aurora, Colorado as well as short stints in Chugwater, Wyoming and Sanford, North Carolina. They also spent many summers in Valentine, Nebraska for the 4th of July, visiting Leland's mother Mildred and their many Bush, Markus and Vandenbos relatives.
Donna was a practicing Registered Nurse after graduating from St. Luke's School of Nursing with a special love for public health nursing, and the hospice movement. She practiced in a variety of venues including specialty practices, nursing homes, and as a public Health nurse for Montrose County. After working in administration at the Mental Health Center in Breckenridge, Donna returned to school to complete a B. S. in Nursing in 1989 while working for Hospice of Metro Denver. Some of her accomplishments in the nursing field include pioneering American Cancer Society support in the African-American community in Sanford, NC, co-founding an AA/Ala-non group in Montrose County's underserved West End, and establishing the Bristlecone Hospice in Summit County.
In addition to her professional interests, Donna had a life-long love of adventure, and history. She traveled to every U.S. state, most National Parks, every inhabited continent, and over too many backroads to count, mostly with her trailblazing husband, Leland. Donna's most recent church affiliation has been with Smoky Hill United Methodist Church from 2008 until present. Before moving to Aurora, Donna actively participated in church activities throughout her life beginning with the Methodist church in Keenesburg where she played the piano for services, and continuing throughout her life. Donna, and cousin, Marilyn, provided the first VBS experience for their Native American neighbors and other underserved children while living near Naturita.
Some of her many talents included playing piano, sewing custom tailored clothing, creating all manner of textile arts, and generally cultivating curiosity and wonder. She was not afraid to try new things like cooking rattlesnake, whitewater rafting and eating squid in Thailand. Many of her cousins know her as the reigning queen of the card game ""Pounce!"" and a master Scrabble player.
Donna is preceded in death by:
Her parents Walt and Lucille Meagher, her husband Leland and his siblings: Arlo and Ruth Vandenbos, Yvonne (Vonnie) Schroeder, Curt Vandenbos and Ivan Vandenbos.
 
The family offers the following opportunities to say farewell to Donna:
Visitation will be held on Thursday December 27, 2018 from 12pm-3pm at Horan and McConaty Funeral Home, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave. Aurora, CO 80014, in the chapel, 303.745.4418.
Burial will take place on Friday December 28, 2018, 9am at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, Colorado 80236, (303) 761-0117. Please meet at Staging Area A no later than 8:30 am.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday December 29, 2018, 2pm at Smoky Hill United Methodist Church, 19491 East Smoky Hill Road, Centennial CO 80015, (303) 690-9816 with a soup and sharing reception follow. Those who would like to bring a salad or soup are welcome to contribute.
Memorial contributions can be made in Donna's name to Denver Hospice or the Smoky Hill United Methodist music program.

Visitation: December 27, 2018 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SE Denver/Aurora
11150 E. Dartmouth Ave.
Aurora, CO 80014

Graveside Service: December 28, 2018 9:00 am

Fort Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80236
(303) 761-0117
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftlogan.asp

Memorial Service: December 29, 2018 2:00 pm

Smoky Hill United Methodist Church
19491 East Smoky Hill Road
Centennial, CO 80015