Louis L. Phannenstiel

Longtime Denver-area resident Lou Phannenstiel passed away peacefully on Saturday November 12th following an accidental fall. He was 79 years old and lived in Littleton at the time of his passing. Lou was born on August 22nd to Alex and Minna Phannenstiel in 1932, in Hays Kansas. He was the eldest of four children raised by Alex and Minna and they moved to the Denver area in 1945. He attended St. Francis de Sales Catholic School where he graduated from high school. Lou started his college studies at Rockhurst College, a Jesuit college in Kansas City for 1 semester. He then transferred to the Colorado School of Mines where he earned a professional degree in Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering in 1954. Lou earned a college scholarship to attend Mines for his participation in varsity football and the ski team. He was also a member of the ROTC program, which helped to fund his education at the school. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, as well as the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. Blue Key is a watchdog society that takes care of the ""M"" that towers above Golden, which symbolizes Mines spirit. One of the lights on the illuminated ""M"" has been designated in Lou's honor. Lou took frequent trips to the mountains of Colorado with his brother and friends, frequently spending nights in the Aspen Jail, not as a prisoner, but as a guest of one of his friends who made the arrangements for the cheap accommodations and food. It was during these years that he earned season passes at Winter Park by boot-packing the slopes during the early season and honing his skiing skills during the rest of the season. He was elated when he was invited to return to Aspen for the 50-year commemoration of it's opening, which he was present for. During the summer of 1954, just after his graduation from Mines, Peggy and Lou's mother Minna, had been working at the Our Lady of the Rockies camp in Evergreen, Colorado. Minna thought that Peggy and Lou would make a nice couple, and so they were introduced just before his departure for Korea. Peggy likes to tell the story of how they met in a linen closet at the camp. He served with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Korea during the reconstruction period after the conflict. This is where Lou claimed to have lost most of his hair, and according to him, not due to genetics, stress or anything else other than those ""gosh-darned army helmets"" that they made him wear. Lou and Peggy communicated voraciously during his time in Korea and soon after his honorable discharge from the US Army Lou worked for a brief time for Continental Oil Company in Poncha City, Oklahoma. Lou returned to Pennsylvania to propose to Peggy and they were married a short time later in Frackville, Pennsylvania on August 31st, 1957. Soon thereafter, they moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where Lou landed a job with Union Carbide Nuclear Company in Rifle, Colorado and the Vanadium facility. Lou found his perfect match for employment as a Project Engineer at Air Products and Chemicals Inc. based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He and Peggy had also started a family of their own, and in 1958, welcomed Mark (honeymoon baby), 1961, Michele and… surprise! Eric, in 1963. During this time, he attended Lehigh University and earned his Master's Degree in Business Administration. Yes, Lou always managed to stay busy in life and set his goals and standards high! Professionally, Lou rapidly moved up the chain of command at Air Products after his direction of many successful projects. He progressed through many positions of leadership at Air Products and had established himself as an industry expert in cryogenic systems, with a focus on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. His expertise spread into the international front when in 1977 he became the General Manager of the Process Equipment Division, and again in 1979 when he became the General Manager and Vice President of Air Products Limited in Hersham, England. The family spent large amounts of time in the United Kingdom in Surrey, just south of London. Lou's next assignment came in 1983, when he accepted the position in Denver, of Vice President of the International division of Stearns Catalytic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products. It was a positive move both professionally and personally for Lou as he was able to be closer to family members and still thrive in his career. He became Chairman and President of Stearns Catalytic and continued in this capacity until the sale of the company in 1987. At this time, Lou attempted his hand at retirement, which did not go so well. He was re-recruited by Air Products to become a consultant for them, which lasted into early 1990's. At this time, Lou finally did retire and enjoyed many of the outdoor activities that he came to love in the mountains of Colorado and on trips that he and Peggy embarked on. They enjoyed multiple trips internationally and domestically. There were frequent ski trips to Vail and other ski areas, cycling on those same mountains and in faraway places like Alaska in the summer time and hiking and cross country skiing in the trails that he came to love through his many years of living in Colorado. The family enjoyed multiple family reunions in various locations that were always special to all in attendance. Lou climbed to the top of Mt Quandary, a 14, 000 foot high peak near Breckenridge during one of these reunions and everyone marveled at his accomplishment. He was strong in body and will, and very determined to accomplish his goals. One of his goals was to remain close to his children and particularly his grandchildren. He went to great lengths to maximize his time with them and would stop at nothing to ensure that would happen. His love for them was returned in spades by these grandchildren, who are all with us today. Through and through, Lou enjoyed life in retirement, but always managed to hold on to his business sense by reading, not perusing, the Wall Street Journal. He lived by (and behind) the daily edition of the newspaper, and was always passing articles of interest on to family members, ""just in case they missed it."" He was euphoric when they began a Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal a couple of years back, although he seemed slightly troubled when they introduced colored ink to the pages. It just didn't seem right to him at first, but he eventually warmed up to it. Lou was passionate about his alma mater, The Colorado School of Mines. He maintained close and personal relationships with Mines Presidents, was chosen to serve on the President's Council, and was a member of the Mines Century Society which honors a lifetime of extraordinary generosity to the school. He rarely missed a Mines event and was well known and respected member of the Mines community. Also, over the past ten years or so, he always looked forward to being a judge for the annual CSM Senior Design Fair with his son Eric, right up to this past spring. Lou was born into the Catholic Church and was a committed servant to the Holy Trinity. He served as an altar boy, which in those days meant learning Latin and leading the responses for the congregation. He continued with his faith through his years of school and business, never faltering in his belief in God and the resurrection. This certainty of his faith was passed on to his descendants and emphasized in his daily actions and rituals. Lou's failing health began in recent years when signs of Alzheimer's disease became evident. His mind declined rapidly this past summer but his body stayed strong through it all. He entered a retirement community at Sunrise, where one wing is dedicated to the special care of Alzheimer's patients. Lou quickly earned a reputation for himself as the most active and functional patient. He was clearly the most visited patient as Peggy made her presence known on a daily basis. He was loved by family and staff alike. He made friends there and seemed to accept his new situation better than anyone could have thought possible. He often bragged to the staff and other patients at Sunrise about what a blessed and lucky man he was. In addition, he never missed an opportunity to let his family members know how proud he was of them all. Through life, Lou was sometimes a difficult man to please, but in the end, he was entirely satisfied by the achievements of his family members and those close to him, and he never hesitated to communicate this to them on an individual basis. We are all going to miss him immensely, but we find comfort in knowing that Lou did not suffer with prolonged disease. His spirit will live on in all of us as we push ourselves to be the best that we can be in all things that we do. His sage advice, that was offered when asked for, will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege to know him through his extraordinary life. Lou was the patriarch of the Phannenstiel family and is survived by his wife Peggy in Littleton, son Mark (wife, Denise) from Castle Rock, CO, daughter Michele McClew (husband, Brad) from Coppell, TX, and son Eric (wife, Lindy), from Avon, CO. He was known as ""Pop Pop"" to his six grandchildren, who he adored and who have adored him in return. They are Alex Phannenstiel, from Tahoe City, CA, Alyssa Phannenstiel from Castle Rock, CO, Maggie McClew from Lubbock TX, Kaitlyn McClew from Coppell, TX, and Molly and Max Phannenstiel from Avon, Colorado. He is also survived by all of his siblings, Rudy (wife, Karen) Phannenstiel from Littleton-area, Colorado, Anita Watts (husband, John) from Lake of the Ozarks, MO, Veronica Murphy (husband, Bob) from Mountain Home, AR. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews and friends who will all miss Lou. Lou was preceded in death by his parents Alex and Minna Phannenstiel and also by his long time friend from college and business Bernie Coady, of Calgary, Canada. Monsignor Robert Kinkle will celebrate a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St Mary Catholic Church 6853 South Prince Street, Littleton, CO. A brief reception will follow in the church basement, followed by graveside services and interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO. Arrangements are being made by Horan and McConaty in Centennial, CO. The family asks that contributions in Lou's honor be made to Alzheimer's Research at the following address: act.alz.org/goto/louis.phannenstiel. More information can be obtained by calling son Eric at 970 376-1027. Please share your memories of Lou and condolences with his family by signing the Guestbook.