Kathleen Walden

Kathleen Rae Walden was born September 30th, 1934 in Madison, Wisconsin to Leroy Anthony Metzler and Carolyn Matilda Beimel.

She had one brother David Metzler that was 10 years her junior. She helped care for him while her mother and father worked.

She lived in Wisconsin until her senior year when they moved to Denver, Colorado. She graduated from South High.

She began working for the phone company where her mother was employed. Her father Leroy had a "chicken by phone" restaurant on Gaylord street where she, her brother and mother all worked for many years. She married Raymond Dale Mickle in 1953, who passed away in a tragic fire two weeks before their first daughter was born, She married Robert Walden in 1962 and they  moved to California where she continued to work until Robert's four children came to live with them. In the next seven years they had four more children.

They had a carpet/flooring business where she worked religiously daily in addition to raising 9 children.

In 1973 she divorced and began doing a variety jobs to help raise her young family. Day care, housecleaning, paper routes, making ceramics to sell,  to name a few.

In 1980 she and her four sons moved to Denver, Colorado to be close to her mother. She worked for Denver General Hospital for 15 years and then and two different law firms until she retired. Kathleen had several talents. She played the piano and organ for many years, made crafts in her home to sell, was a beautiful singer and an amazing cook. She enjoyed being involved in her sons baseball games and spent countless hours at the baseball field and was their cub scout leader. She always had time to help someone in need and was so thoughtful of everyone. She never forgot a birthday or holiday and was always thinking of others and what she could do to make them happy. She had an enfectious laugh and was always happy. Kathleen taught her children how to love. There was never a time when she would end a phone call or a visit without telling them she loved them.

The last 4 years of her life she was bedridden and life began to be very difficult for her. She had wonderful caregivers that watched over her. Even though she had much pain and turmoil in her life the last few years, she always maintained that beautiful smile, humor and had hope that she would be able to walk again.

She lifted up everyone's spirits no matter how she she was feeling inside. She left a special place in our hearts and will be remembered for all the happiness and love she brought to our family.

She is survived by her brother David Metzler, daughter Rayetta Sue Mickle, sons Richard David Walden, Jeffrey Norman Walden, Matthew Louis Walden, Michael Leroy Walden. She is also survived by her 4 step -children that loved her dearly, Leah Walden, Robert Walden, Nathan Walden, and Jerry Walden. She has many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren who she treasured.