Obituary of George Linger

Biography George Warren Linger went to be with his Lord on January 23, 2013 due to complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was born on March 13, 1943 to Lyman George Linger and Sylvia B. Scanlon in Alamosa Colorado. Lyman and his brothers owned the Linger Brothers Ranch bordering the Great Sand Dunes National Monument near Alamosa CO. That was where young George started his training to become a cowboy. When George was 3, Lyman and Sylvia bought Rattlesnake Park Ranch in the foothills of Loveland, Colorado where they raised cattle and horses. Until he was six years old, he was home schooled and he often told the story of how he would sit on the corral fence while Lyman worked horses in the corral this is where he learned math, ABC’s, and spelling. From the time George and his brother Mike were old enough to sit on a horse they were expected to work on the family ranch. When they were not being schooled, they rose early in the morning, joined the ranch hands down at the barn, mounted their horses, and worked the on the ranch until dark. He often said this is where he learned the fine art of fence building. The Linger family also showed their registered Hereford cattle at the National Western Stock show each year where they were awarded Grand Champion status. Lyman believed very strongly in conservation and practiced them faithfully on his ranch. Lyman was awarded many awards throughout the years and was asked to teach others his practices. He taught George the value of preserving the land and he faithfully followed his dad’s conservation practices. When George started 2nd grade and his brother Mike started 1st they were taught in a one room school house near the ranch. He then transferred to public school in the 7 grade. When he was a junior in high school, his mother decided she wanted her boys to learn to be disciplined gentlemen, so she enrolled them in Wentworth Military academy in Lexington, Missouri, where he stayed until his senior year. He went back home and graduated from Fort Collins High and attended CSU where he majored in Animal Husbandry. Even though George left the ranch and worked at various jobs, he was always a cowboy at heart and every opportunity he had he went back and worked on the ranch. George was the Vice-President of the Bank of Fountain Valley in Security, Colorado when his father learned he had Prostate Cancer. George was asked to come home and run the family ranch. He moved back to Loveland and Jeane followed him in June of that year after school was out. After his father’s death, George started his own herd of registered Gelbvieh cattle which he still raises. George married Jeanine Kennedy in 1961. They were blessed with a daughter Michal Sue and a son Warren Scott. George and his present wife Jeane were married April 1, 1981. To this union, Jeane brought her daughter D’Lynn Jeane. Together they made the decision to combine their families and create a loving family. Jeane was the one to always tell the children, “Be safe, you’ll poke your eye with that thing, etc.” George on the other hand told the kids, “let’s go do this, if you don’t try it you’ll never know if it will work, and you can be anything you want to be.” Will Rogers, humorist and cowboy poet was always George’s hero. He set out at a very early age to act like him. Yes Ladies, Will always tipped his hat as he was leaving his shows. George and Jeane moved to Flagler in August 2005. George was a friend to all and never knew a stranger. He decided he wanted to learn about his new home and the people. He made it his goal to make many friends on the Eastern Plains to which he succeeded. When he was younger he rode bare back horses and competed against professional riders in the Larimer County Fair. Also, George raced his four-wheel drive Jeep. Throughout his life George was very involved in the communities he lived in. He was a member of Larimer County Sherriff Posse and rose to the rank of captain in 1999. He is a member of Cowboy Single Action Shooting Society. George Linger was a board member of the Flagler Conservation District at the time of his death. George always encouraged his children and grandchildren in their endeavors. Always told them he was proud of them. Most of all always hugged, kissed, and told his wife, children, and grandchildren he loved them. George is survived by his wife Jeane Linger, daughter Michal Frank with husband John and grandson J.J.; son Warren Linger with wife Sally (For Kei), his granddaughter Mekei and grandson Keien; his daughter D’Lynn Shaffer with husband Eric, and grandsons Garrett, Cole, and Bryce; One brother Mike Linger; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. His Father and mother preceded him in death.