Marjorie R. ""Mardie"" Van Arsdale

Marjorie ""Mardie"" Van Arsdale passed away peacefully on December 23, 2016, at Covenant Village in Westminster. She had lived there for the past six months with her husband of 71 years, Wayne. She was 93. Mardie was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 3, 1923. Her parents Einar and Ruth Almdale were both of Norwegian descent. Living in Detroit and in nearby Grosse Point, she excelled at school, with honors that included winning the 1934 spelling bee sponsored by The Detroit News. She also began her study of piano, a skill which blossomed through her 60s. She attended Michigan State University, where she earned a B.S. degree. During World War II she met her future husband not long before he departed for the Pacific Theatre, where he captained B-24 bombers. They married shortly after his return, on November 3, 1945. Shortly thereafter, Mardie and Wayne moved to Denver. In 1953 they moved to Arvada, where they lived in the same home through mid-2016. The view of Mt. Evans from their back porch still ranks, for many Arvadans, as among the best Front Range vistas they've ever seen. During her youth, Mardie enjoyed swimming, once crossing Michigan's Lake Orion non-stop. With her husband and children, she enjoyed camping, fishing, and cross-country skiing. She took pride in maintaining a spotless home in Arvada and a spotless cabin near Fairplay. Her love of the Colorado plains was balanced by her love of the Colorado mountains. Some of the mountain views reminded her of ancestral Norway. After her own children left the nest, she worked part-time for the Jefferson County Health Department as a developmental screener for children. Following in her mother's footsteps, she volunteered for the American Red Cross. She also was active in PEO and in activities of the church. Mardie joined the Arvada Presbyterian Church on December 23, 1956. She passed away exactly 60 years later to the day, on December 23, 2016. She is survived by her husband Wayne; her son Peter (and his wife Kathy); her daughters Elise and Celia (and her husband David); her grandchildren Sarah, Amy, Mark, Dylan, and Matthew; and her great-grandchildren Sydney, Colin, and Paul. Her service will be held at the Arvada Presbyterian Church, 5592 Independence Street, Arvada, Colorado, 80002, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2016. Burial will be at the Arvada Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Arvada Presbyterian Church. Please share your memories of Marjorie and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.