Francis A. Vandenberg

Francis A. Vandenberg, 89, of Littleton, Colorado passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2018, ten days after his beloved wife Bernice. He was born to Mary and Albert Vandenberg on May 14, 1929 in Brainard, Nebraska.

Francis graduated from East High School in Denver, Colorado. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan. Francis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from University of Colorado (CU). Francis also studied Applied Math as a post-graduate at UCLA and CU.

Francis spent the majority of his career at Martin Marietta. He worked on various programs during his career in Aerospace and Defense, including guidance and control and rendezvous analysis for the Apollo Program. Francis had numerous contributions to journals and periodicals and was included in Who's Who in Aviation and Aerospace (1983 first year of issue of U.S. edition) for his accomplishments in the industry.

Francis married Bernice Ribar on January 8, 1955. In the early years of their marriage they lived in California and started a family. After their first three daughters were born they moved back to Colorado where their youngest daughter was born. Francis enjoyed family functions, such as annual family vacations to places like Washington, D.C., New York and Florida. Francis also enjoyed building things and fixing things around the house. He built a mountain cabin for family mini-getaways and he built a wonderful doll house for his daughters. He also enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren.

Francis was a devout Catholic and religion was a very important part of his life. Francis volunteered as a Communion minister. His faith brought him much comfort as his health declined, never wanting to miss Sunday mass.

Francis is survived by his brother Robert Vandenberg; his daughters Sharon Vandenberg, Cindy Vandenberg, Linda Smith and Diane Skeen; and his grandchildren Derrick and Tanner Smith, Kelsey and Lindsey Vandenberg, and Tyler and Korey Skeen.

A Rosary service and viewing will be held on Thursday, August 30, 2018. Viewing will begin at 5:00 pm and the Rosary at 6:00 pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Christ on the Mountain (Church of Christ) Catholic Church, 13922 W. Utah Ave., Lakewood, Colorado on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11 a.m. Reception to follow at St. Jude Catholic Church.

In lieu flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org or at 1777 S. Harrison Street Suite 500 Denver, Colorado 80210 or to the St. Jude Children's Hospital at www.stjude.org or at 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Please share memories of Francis and condolence messages with his family below.

Visitation: August 30, 2018 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Recitation of the Rosary : August 30, 2018 6:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Funeral Mass: August 31, 2018 11:00 am

Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church
13922 West Utah Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80228
303-988-2222