Obituary of Regina Whipple

Regina (Jeannie) Etiennette Scherrer Whipple was born October 18, 1921 near Agate, Colorado, the daughter of William and Helen Mattingly Scherrer. She passed away February 14, 2006 in Fort Collins, Colorado after a short illness. The family moved to the old Hermes Ranch on the Republican River north of Burlington, Colorado in 1929. Jeannie and her brothers attended the Ritzius School south of “the place on the river.â€? In 1938, the family moved to the Manley place and in 1939 the family purchased and moved to the McNair place east of Kirk. Following her graduation from Kirk High School in 1940, Jeannie entered nurses training at the Seton School of Nursing in Colorado Springs. She passed her state boards in March of 1944 and joined the army. She served overseas in England, France and Germany with the 130th Station Hospital. While in France she and her brother Joe were able to spend time with their Aunt Jo Marion. She also was able to visit Lourdes. After her discharge in 1946, she worked in Santa Fe, New Mexico with the Indian Service for three years. She returned to Colorado and began working at the hospital in Burlington. Jeannie married Forrest Whipple on October 18, 1949 at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Stratton. Forrest and Jeannie then made their home on their farm north of Stratton and raised their 8 children there. She enjoyed gardening, and having flowers around her home, traveling, reading, baseball and family functions. She was an excellent seamstress and in the early years, made most of the clothing worn by her family. In 1963, she began working at Grace Manor Nursing Home and worked there for over 20 years. She loved nursing and this occupation suited her compassionate, caring and patient nature. Jeannie and Forrest moved to Burlington in 1974, after retiring from farming. She realized a longtime dream when she opened and operated the Mode-o-Day clothing store from 1977-1985 in Burlington. She was a devout Catholic, and her strong faith in God was an integral part of her life. After her retirement, she began making quilts for the graduations of her grandchildren and for each of her children as they turned 50. Preceding her in death was her husband, Forrest, one grandson Loyd, a sister Mary Angele, two brothers Alex and Robert Scherrer, and two sister-in-laws Violet and Maia. Surviving are her eight children: Gladys, David and his wife Gabriele, Stephen and Cheryl, Gerald, Regina and her husband Dennis Oldham, Dolores and her husband Jim Gallentine, Clifford, Lenora (Nonie) and her husband Scott Winslow. Grandchildren: Greg, Jennifer, William and Jayme, Brad and Beth, Stephanie and John, Gery, Johnathan, Hailey, Rachel and Zeb, Crystal, Maria and Rodney, Grant, Roxanne, Angelee, Dylan, and Alana. Great grandchildren: Shane, Cody, Elizabeth, Cameron, Damian, and Braden. Jeannie is also survived by her brothers and sisters: Joe and Emma of Brooklyn, NY, Albert and Mavis of Crawford, CO, Philip and Dolores of Houston, TX, Katherine and Dan Bauer of Eaton, CO, Agnes and Hank Puga of Littleton, CO, and a sister-in-law Barbara Scherrer of Castro Valley, CA. In addition, she leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services for Mrs. Whipple were held on Monday, February 20, 2006 at 10:00 AM at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Burlington, with Father Ernest Bond and Father George Fagen officiating. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington. Visitation was held on Sunday, February 19, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the church with a parish rosary recited at 7:00 PM. Memorials may be made in Regina’s name to the Tri-State Kidney Dialysis Center and may be left at the Bank of the West in Burlington.