Greta Young

Greta Colleen Young, age 88, passed away at home on August 3, 2020. She was born in Centerville, Iowa on March 13, 1932, the first child of Reuben and Virgie Hawkinson. Five years later, her younger sister and lifetime soulmate and friend, Marsha was born and completed the family.

Music was Greta's life, and piano was her first love. In high school, she was the concertmistress of the orchestra first chair violin. She also played the French horn in the high school marching band and was the substitute organist at the Lutheran Church. While attending the University of Iowa, Greta mastered the bagpipes and played in the famous Iowa Scottish Highlanders.

Greta was very spiritual and had aspirations to earn her nursing degree and become a missionary. Fate intervened when she started her nursing studies in the fall of 1950 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Greta attended the freshman dance welcoming the freshman class to the University. However, some upper classmen fraternity men crashed the dance to check out the new women on campus. When Greta danced with Dan Young, a junior, it led to a romance.

Greta and Dan were married two years later on December 21st, 1952 at Greta’s Church in Ottumwa, IA. They were married for 62 years. Four children were born into the marriage: Marsha, David, Lisa and Susan. The family was saddened by the loss of their fifth child, a stillborn baby boy. Greta took a break from her nursing studies after Marsha was born. While keeping busy as a mother and an Air Force Officer’s wife, Greta managed to finish her nursing degree while Dan was stationed in Great Falls, Montana. After the Air Force, the family returned to the University of Iowa, so Dan could finish his master’s in pharmacy management. Dave was born while they were in Iowa. The family then moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado when Dan accepted the Head of Pharmacy at Penrose Hospital. Lisa and Susan were born in Colorado Springs. In 1961, they moved to Denver, Colorado when Dan accepted the Chief Pharmacist position at Colorado General, now the University of Colorado Health Science Center. Greta was a devoted registered nurse at Swedish Hospital for over 30 years. As a charge nurse she often went in to work early to take advantage of  advance learning opportunities to fine tune her skills. After her retirement, she cherished opportunities to gather with the retired nurses for brunch.

Greta and family belonged to Christ the King Lutheran Church for over 50 years. She sang in the choir, enjoyed giving communion to parishioners who were unable to attend church, and helped plan and maintain the Church Memorial Garden.

Greta was most happy when she was with her family and in her flower garden. Despite the distance between them, Greta and her sister Marsha shared their love of flowers often bringing flowers to each other to plant in their gardens. Greta also served as the President of the Colorado African Violet Association for several years. She insisted that her African violets loved her back. Greta toiled for hours in her beautiful flower garden which brought her great joy. All four of her children inherited her love of plants and flowers.

Greta and Dan hosted many family holiday and birthday gatherings in their home. Hardly an event was held that Greta did not have her camera ready to chronicle the occasion.  Her family now has the ultimate gift of albums full of their life events. She created an individual photo album for each of her children chronicling their lives.

Greta's bonds with her sister, Marsha, were passed on to both families. The Colorado and Iowa families spent many Christmases, Easters and summer vacations together. The families would even meet halfway in Kearney, Nebraska to spend a weekend together. Greta and Dan traveled extensively with Marsha and Dick, Greta's sister and brother-in-law. They traveled to Europe and enjoyed many vacations that were known for beautiful beaches and plentiful flowers.

Greta was preceded in death by her husband Dan, daughter Lisa, parents Reuban and Virgie Hawkinson, in-laws Amos and Florence Young, dear aunts Ethel, Ruth and Martha, and her soulmate dog Chewy. Left behind to cherish Greta's memory are her three remaining children, Marsha, David (Bobbie), Susan, her sister Marsha, brother-in-law Dick and her dear rescue dog Roxi whose devotion and love were a great source of comfort to her. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Kara (Todd), Brooke, Nate (Antoinette) and Zach. In addition, she is survived by 12 great grandchildren: Beli, Ian, Nina, Meriah, Laylah, Nicolette, Juliet, Niko, Jacoby, Adalynn, Anabelle and newborn Alana.

The loss of our dear matriarch, Greta, is the end of an era in our lives. Her granddaughter Kara expressed it best, “She was fierce. Have you ever had a person in your corner that defends you, teaches you, nurtures you, loves you, and behind the scenes tells you like it really is, and lets you know you can always do better? That was my Grandma, her name was Greta, she was beautiful, so loving. She and my Grandpa lead an army, a family, a loving, caring family, a big family. She found the good in each one of us and never ceased to remind us of our strengths. She loved music, flowers, people, Church, babies, dancing, baking, picnics, traveling, but most of all loved making sure she time stamped our memories with photos. She will never be forgotten. All of us will carry on with her voice and her humor in our thoughts as we move forward.”

Committal Service Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:15am, Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area C.

In the spring, we plan to honor Greta with a Celebration of Life at her Church, Christ the King. Donations can be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2300 S. Patton CT, Denver, CO 80219.