Pauline Teakell

Anna Pauline Teakell, 88, of Westminster, Colorado, went from the loving arms of her family to join her Heavenly Father September 21, 2010. She was born May 13, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri to Ruby Carleen Singleton and Jesse Thomas Osborn. On August 19, 1943 she was united in marriage to Claude Lilburn Fondaw who preceded her in death February 15, 1984. Two daughters were born to this union, Joanna (Larry) Pace of Westminster, and Janet VonDauch of Castle Rock, Colorado. Survivors include two brothers, Jim (Ruth) Osborn, Harold (Mary Ann) Osborn, one sister-in-law Elma Osborn, and one brother-in-law, Bill Eichinger, seven grandchildren, Nick Jarvis, Kelly (Jason) Flaherty, Sam Gorsuch, Michalyn Gorsuch, Chance Gorsuch, Luke Gorsuch and Nate Gorsuch. Two step-granddaughters, Melanie Austin and Kristin Mustard; one great grandson and three step great grandchildren; three step children, Mary (Dorsey) Davisson, Eunice Teakell and John (Christine) Teakell. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Robert Osborn, one sister Virginia Eichinger and two husbands. Pauline was saved at the age of ten under her mother's teaching. She felt a call to be a missionary at the time, but it wasn't until the age of fourteen that she felt definitely called to be a missionary to the Navajo Indians in New Mexico. She attended Denver Bible Institute in Denver from where she graduated in 1943. While attending Bible School in Denver she met her future husband Claude Fondaw who also felt called to the Navajo Field. He had seen her walk across the dining hall and thought to himself, ""there goes my future wife"". We learned later that he told Pauline ""I love you"" on their first date"", which frightened Pauline. When Claude proposed to Pauline he said I should get down on my knees to do this, but I won't get on my knees except before the Lord. After finishing Bible School and then being married in 1943, Claude and Pauline headed to the Navajo Reservation first in Arizona and then New Mexico. Arriving on the field with only a few possessions, they set up housekeeping. For a few years they didn't even have a refrigerator. They used to move the butter around the house during the day to keep it in the shade. One day they noticed all the chickens had yellow, greasy necks. They had found the butter! In 1947 they located at the very isolated place of Star Lake, New Mexico and pioneered without the advantages of running water, electricity, telephone, paved roads, etc. Often their mail waited for two or three weeks at Crownpoint, New Mexico, 56 miles west of Star Lake. The Lord richly blessed their ministry there even though there were many challenges and hurdles. Claude and Pauline dedicated their lives to the Lord and spent 41 years together on the mission field in New Mexico. Learning the Navajo language and becoming affluent in it was a hurdle they mastered. After Claude passed away, Pauline continued the ministry alone until she married Weldon Teakell September 13, 1986. Weldon was from Kansas City and was a widower who wanted to come out west. He and his first wife had been supporters of Pauline & Claude for many years. After he and Pauline were married, they continued the ministry at Star Lake, New Mexico until October 1, 2001 when Weldon lost his battle with cancer and was called Home. All totaled, Pauline spent 58 years being a missionary. She was such a remarkable person and touched many lives with her sweet personality, leadership, and example. In 2001 she moved to the Denver area to live with her daughters. She began working on her Master's degree in theology. Studying the Bible was one of Pauline's favorite things to do. She truly loved the Lord with all her heart. In 2007, she attained her goal and was awarded her degree. But that wasn't enough for Pauline. She then embarked upon earning a PhD in Theology. A common sight at the home was Pauline sitting at her computer writing and studying. Even at her age, she became fascinated with the Internet and finding materials and photos there that aided in her studies. June 1, 2009 was a devastating day in Pauline's life when she learned that she had cancer and really had no options. We watched as the zeal disappeared from her life and now there was a dark cloud over her head. She continued as long as she felt good enough still pursuing her studies. The cancer was so hard on her and it wasn't long before the studies went by the wayside. At times when you would enter her bedroom she would be lying there with one leg hanging out of the bed and when asked about it, she said she needed to get up and get to work as she had so many unfinished projects. She passed away not finishing her PhD, but we know she has a much better reward where she is now! Pauline was never idle. If she wasn't working on her studies, she was working crossword puzzles, making notes for many writings that she finished and published or sitting somewhere reading a book. She used to say ""books are my friends."" We are left with many books and manuscripts that she wrote and it is an honor to read what she so carefully studied out and wrote. Pauline had a sense of humor and loved to laugh. Pulling pranks on people who were at her mercy gave her great pleasure. From flies in ice cubes, water glasses with holes in it, faking a bloody nose, mailing people envelopes full of confetti that went all over when opened, putting a sign on her doorknob that read ""undercover agent"", giving her grandchildren whistles for Christmas when they were young to drive their Mom nuts, playing corny songs on the piano, writing humorous skits and plays, owning a clown suit and all the prank things that went with that, on and on the list could go. One always knew to be on guard when around Pauline – she had a drawer full of prank items and you always wondered what would come out next! Even as she became sicker and sicker, she could still muster a smile! Growing up as Pauline's daughters, we knew she loved us because of the discipline. One of her sayings to us when we had erred was, ""wait 'til your father gets home; I'm going to tell him you kids had a K.D.D.O."" (That stands for knock down drag out)! Pauline was the best Mom we girls could ever ask for. She felt that she short-changed us in many ways, but we assured her that we did not feel that way and that we were very thankful for her. Leading us to the Lord was the best gift a mother could share. Remembering her teaching us from the Bible still stands out in our minds; ""making"" us memorize Scripture was one thing we remember and the words are still in our hearts and minds. Pauline was very fair to us, and we seldom saw her upset with us. We know she prayed for us and she was a true prayer warrior. Pauline seldom complained, but if she did, we knew we needed to listen and take heed. There are not sufficient words to describe our Mother. Memories of you will live on in the many hearts and lives that you have touched. You will be missed, Mom. --------------------------------------------------------------- Visitation will be held Thursday, September 23, 2010, 4-7 PM, at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 9998 Grant Street, in Thornton, Colorado. Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 24, 210, 11 AM, at Tri-City Baptist Church, 6953 West 92nd Lane, Broomfield, Colorado 80021. A reception will follow the service at the church. Interment will take place at a later date at Sunset Memorial Park, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Please share memories of Pauline and condolences with her family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" tab below.