Paul Eugene Phifer, 86, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, at a care facility in Fort Collins following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and respiratory issues.
Paul was born Oct. 22, 1929, six days before the crash of the stock market and the start of the Great Depression. Fittingly, he spent the bulk of his life fixing things and improving the lives of pretty much everyone lucky enough to cross his path.
Paul was the eighth and youngest child of William H. and Mary Mabel (Wall) Phifer. He grew up on a farm near Parks, Neb., before moving to nearby Benkelman, Neb., where he graduated from high school in 1948 after starring in football, basketball and track.
He met Thelma Orten, a Kansas beauty, on a blind date that included dancing to the famed Eddie Howard Orchestra. They spent nearly seven decades adding chapters to their love story – a tale that included 64 years of marriage, five children, a move to Fort Collins to be close to their beloved mountains, and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing.
Paul was a classic Jack-of-all-trades, able to repair most anything. He discovered his love of plumbing in his early teens and spent all of his adult life in that trade, including the final 30-plus years working for Wray Plumbing & Heating. He helped build many of the structures that define modern-day Fort Collins, including Poudre Valley Hospital, the Lory Student Center, Morgan Library, Old Town Square and the 12-story residence halls on the northwest side of the CSU campus.
Among the requirements for securing the hand of Thelma was converting to Catholicism, and he did so with great conviction. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church for more than 60 years and a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and in the Fourth Degree, and he helped build the existing KofC Hall on Meldrum Street.
Paul loved fishing, camping and spending time at the cabin he and the family built in the Red Feather Lakes area. The farm kid from Nebraska became a world traveler in retirement as he and Thelma visited Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean, and took pilgrimages to Medjugorje and other Christian shrines.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister, his wife and a granddaughter. He is survived by his five children – Terri Haas, Laporte; Tim Phifer (Sandy), Harrisonville, Mo.; Steve Phifer (Deborah), Staunton, Ill.; Tony Phifer (Kathy), Fort Collins; and Paula Phifer, Platteville – 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please join the family in supporting St. Joseph's or the Alzheimer's Association.
Paul was born Oct. 22, 1929, six days before the crash of the stock market and the start of the Great Depression. Fittingly, he spent the bulk of his life fixing things and improving the lives of pretty much everyone lucky enough to cross his path.
Paul was the eighth and youngest child of William H. and Mary Mabel (Wall) Phifer. He grew up on a farm near Parks, Neb., before moving to nearby Benkelman, Neb., where he graduated from high school in 1948 after starring in football, basketball and track.
He met Thelma Orten, a Kansas beauty, on a blind date that included dancing to the famed Eddie Howard Orchestra. They spent nearly seven decades adding chapters to their love story – a tale that included 64 years of marriage, five children, a move to Fort Collins to be close to their beloved mountains, and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing.
Paul was a classic Jack-of-all-trades, able to repair most anything. He discovered his love of plumbing in his early teens and spent all of his adult life in that trade, including the final 30-plus years working for Wray Plumbing & Heating. He helped build many of the structures that define modern-day Fort Collins, including Poudre Valley Hospital, the Lory Student Center, Morgan Library, Old Town Square and the 12-story residence halls on the northwest side of the CSU campus.
Among the requirements for securing the hand of Thelma was converting to Catholicism, and he did so with great conviction. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church for more than 60 years and a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and in the Fourth Degree, and he helped build the existing KofC Hall on Meldrum Street.
Paul loved fishing, camping and spending time at the cabin he and the family built in the Red Feather Lakes area. The farm kid from Nebraska became a world traveler in retirement as he and Thelma visited Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean, and took pilgrimages to Medjugorje and other Christian shrines.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister, his wife and a granddaughter. He is survived by his five children – Terri Haas, Laporte; Tim Phifer (Sandy), Harrisonville, Mo.; Steve Phifer (Deborah), Staunton, Ill.; Tony Phifer (Kathy), Fort Collins; and Paula Phifer, Platteville – 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please join the family in supporting St. Joseph's or the Alzheimer's Association.
Paul Eugene Phifer, 86, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, at a care facility in Fort Collins following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and respiratory issues.
Paul was born Oct. 22, 1929, six days before the crash of the stock market and the start of the Great Depression. Fittingly, he spent the bulk of his life fixing things and improving the lives of pretty much everyone lucky enough to cross his path.
Paul was the eighth and youngest child of William H. and Mary Mabel (Wall) Phifer. He grew up on a farm near Parks, Neb., before moving to nearby Benkelman, Neb., where he graduated from high school in 1948 after starring in football, basketball and track.
He met Thelma Orten, a Kansas beauty, on a blind date that included dancing to the famed Eddie Howard Orchestra. They spent nearly seven decades adding chapters to their love story – a tale that included 64 years of marriage, five children, a move to Fort Collins to be close to their beloved mountains, and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing.
Paul was a classic Jack-of-all-trades, able to repair most anything. He discovered his love of plumbing in his early teens and spent all of his adult life in that trade, including the final 30-plus years working for Wray Plumbing & Heating. He helped build many of the structures that define modern-day Fort Collins, including Poudre Valley Hospital, the Lory Student Center, Morgan Library, Old Town Square and the 12-story residence halls on the northwest side of the CSU campus.
Among the requirements for securing the hand of Thelma was converting to Catholicism, and he did so with great conviction. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church for more than 60 years and a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and in the Fourth Degree, and he helped build the existing KofC Hall on Meldrum Street.
Paul loved fishing, camping and spending time at the cabin he and the family built in the Red Feather Lakes area. The farm kid from Nebraska became a world traveler in retirement as he and Thelma visited Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean, and took pilgrimages to Medjugorje and other Christian shrines.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister, his wife and a granddaughter. He is survived by his five children – Terri Haas, Laporte; Tim Phifer (Sandy), Harrisonville, Mo.; Steve Phifer (Deborah), Staunton, Ill.; Tony Phifer (Kathy), Fort Collins; and Paula Phifer, Platteville – 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please join the family in supporting St. Joseph's or the Alzheimer's Association.
Paul was born Oct. 22, 1929, six days before the crash of the stock market and the start of the Great Depression. Fittingly, he spent the bulk of his life fixing things and improving the lives of pretty much everyone lucky enough to cross his path.
Paul was the eighth and youngest child of William H. and Mary Mabel (Wall) Phifer. He grew up on a farm near Parks, Neb., before moving to nearby Benkelman, Neb., where he graduated from high school in 1948 after starring in football, basketball and track.
He met Thelma Orten, a Kansas beauty, on a blind date that included dancing to the famed Eddie Howard Orchestra. They spent nearly seven decades adding chapters to their love story – a tale that included 64 years of marriage, five children, a move to Fort Collins to be close to their beloved mountains, and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing.
Paul was a classic Jack-of-all-trades, able to repair most anything. He discovered his love of plumbing in his early teens and spent all of his adult life in that trade, including the final 30-plus years working for Wray Plumbing & Heating. He helped build many of the structures that define modern-day Fort Collins, including Poudre Valley Hospital, the Lory Student Center, Morgan Library, Old Town Square and the 12-story residence halls on the northwest side of the CSU campus.
Among the requirements for securing the hand of Thelma was converting to Catholicism, and he did so with great conviction. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church for more than 60 years and a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and in the Fourth Degree, and he helped build the existing KofC Hall on Meldrum Street.
Paul loved fishing, camping and spending time at the cabin he and the family built in the Red Feather Lakes area. The farm kid from Nebraska became a world traveler in retirement as he and Thelma visited Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean, and took pilgrimages to Medjugorje and other Christian shrines.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister, his wife and a granddaughter. He is survived by his five children – Terri Haas, Laporte; Tim Phifer (Sandy), Harrisonville, Mo.; Steve Phifer (Deborah), Staunton, Ill.; Tony Phifer (Kathy), Fort Collins; and Paula Phifer, Platteville – 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
There will be a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please join the family in supporting St. Joseph's or the Alzheimer's Association.
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