Peggy Jo Dinkel

Peggy Jo (Kirwan) Dinkel, 82, was born August 2, 1933 to Philip J. and Esther K. Kirwan, Jr. in Glenwood Springs, Colorado where at one time her Grandfather served as Mayor and her Uncle owned the town's photography studio. She grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Denver, Colorado. Peggy graduated from Cathedral High School in Denver in 1951. Soon after her family relocated to Amman, Jordan where her father served as a water attorney for the U.S. State Department. While there, Peggy attended American University in Beirut, Lebanon for two years before returning to Denver, where she met and married Kenneth J. Dinkel in 1956. They were married for 56 years until his passing in 2013. While raising her five children, Peggy was active in the Democratic Party pursuing her interest in politics including working at the Colorado State Capitol. Her career path followed interesting directions, including working in the construction and banking industries. Peggy's real love was writing. She had an incredible passion for poetry, for which she pursued exuberantly. Peggy is a published poet, strongly supported by her writer's group, Voices of Women, with whom she collaborated with for many years until her passing. Peggy loved reading, and greatly enjoyed traveling, especially to Ireland where she vigorously explored her Celtic heritage, meeting distant relatives and exploring her family's homeland. Hers was a life well- lived, filled with joy and happiness, punctuated by time spent with her beloved family and all her cherished friends. Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, and her siblings Philip and Jole. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Laura Arundel (Jeff-deceased), Tina Bishop (Bob), Julia Dybdahl, Joe Dinkel, and Vanessa Caniff (Thomas); her grandchildren, Erin, Briant, Emily, Taylor and Ian; and many sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and nieces and nephews. A visitation for Peggy will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 6:00PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado. A with a Vigil Service with a Recitation of the Rosary will follow at 7:00PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 10, 2016 at 9:30AM at St. Jude Catholic Church 9405 W. Florida Ave., Lakewood, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Memorial Contributions be made to a charity of choice. Please share your condolences with the family by signing the guestbook below.