Mary Ellen Gutknecht

Mary Ellen Gutknecht was taken to heaven by our Lord on November 14, 2016. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Paul, and her four children – Beth (Keith) Holle, Mark (Betsy), Barry (Denise), and Steve (Tracie), and three granddaughters – Michelle, Sabrina, and Becky. Mary was born April 13, 1933, in East Chicago, Indiana to Edgar and Sophie Finegan. She was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Whiting, Indiana and was confirmed in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary graduated from Bethany Lutheran High School in 1951 and took various classes over the years, including training to be a travel agent. She also spent many years working as a Mary Kay consultant. On a childhood family trip to Estes Park, she fell in love with Colorado, not only because of the mountains, but also because the dry climate helped her asthma. In 1953, she talked a girlfriend into moving with her to Denver, Colorado. She joined Emmaus Lutheran Church, meeting her future husband Paul there. She went to work at Gates Rubber Company in the payroll office. Mary and Paul were married on July 27, 1956. After the birth of Beth, she changed careers and became a Domestic Engineer, a full time wife and mother. She was good at this job – witness her four adult children. Mary liked to travel and relished living in five different states and two foreign countries. She enjoyed playing piano, singing in choir and anything to do with music. She also enjoyed bicycling, skiing, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, caring for her roses, picnics in the mountains, and family Christmas celebrations. Mary will be profoundly missed by her family and many friends. Visitation will be Thursday, November 17, 2016, from 4:00-8:00 PM, at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, in Arvada, Colorado 80003. Memorial Services honoring Mary will be Friday, November 18, 2016, beginning at 2:00 PM, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 10675 Washington Street, Northglenn, Colorado 80233. Private Committal Services will be held in the future at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gethsemane Lutheran Church 10675 Washington Street Northglenn, Colorado 80233 or HHT Foundation International, Inc. P.O. Box 329 Monkton, Maryland 21111 Please share your memories of Mary and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.