Gilbert J. Hawkins

Gilbert Joseph Hawkins had just had his 88th birthday on 12-16. "Gib" as he was affectionately known, by those from who knew him when he was young. Most of his friends, when he was young, also knew him as "Barney" although no one really knows where that nick name came from.

Gilbert was born on December 16, 1927 and was raised in Louisville, Colorado. He was born in St, Joseph's hospital to Henry R. Hawkins and Flora Zarini. He graduated with the Class of 1946 from Louisville High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. NAVY, but he was proud to be a Colorado native and was very content to stay within its borders. He was known to say after his service in the NAVY that he would be very happy to never leave Colorado again.

He was however, destined to leave Colorado, briefly, to marry to his beloved, Beverly Joan. They were married on February 13, 1954, in Kansas City, Missouri. Gilbert's children have very fond memories of summer trips to the Lake of the Ozarks to visit family there. After these relatives were no longer at the lake the vacation options stayed in Colorado.

With his new bride they had a few apartments around the Denver area, but his wife Joan had always dreamed of owning a home. So they set their mind and money on that goal and achieved their first home in 1954. The house was brand new and they never had the urge to live anywhere else. Mom lived in that home until her death in 2001 and Dad was determined to live there until he died. He did just that.

After his military service, Gilbert trained as a printer. Because of his trade he always had ink stains on his fingers and ink under his nails. Through his work he was able to print all kinds of books, flyers and other items. I never really knew how he felt about what he did, but I know he was gone long hours and always looked forward to the month of August where we would pack up and go on vacation in the Colorado Mountains. Dad really never wanted to go anywhere else. We always went to go the same campground on the same lake. It got to be a game to remember which camp space we had the year before. After camp was set up the real Gilbert would come out. These more relaxed moments are the times most precious in the memories of his children.

Dad loved fishing in all of its forms weather sitting peacefully by the side of a calm lake or walking a rushing river, he loved it all. It was one of the few things he truly enjoyed and was able to share that love and joy with his family. He taught all of his children to fish and was always glad to have company while doing it and patient in his instruction. He was also very tolerant when his wife and children, when bored with the sport, would leave him lake side to explore other things. We always knew where to find Dad.

As I said Dad's main passion was fishing and camping in the mountains of Colorado. These fishing and camping trips were always the times he felt the freest and could relax from the pressures of his work. His three children all have the best memories of dad patiently teaching each of us to lake fish. Then as we made progress he allowed us to walk the river with poles in hand, in his ever constant search for the best rock with the deepest pool to plop us on so we could find that ever elusive fish that was just waiting to be caught. If we caught some they would eventually find their way into his cast iron skillet with the ones he always managed to catch. Mom would have backup food ready just in case, but his creel was hardly ever empty.

Both girls remember with a smile the one time they saw their dad move faster than they ever would have thought possible. They were on vacation, camping/fishing, of course, when on the rare occasions one of them actually had their line in the water, but they were on the opposite side of the lake as dad. When what should happen they hooked something. They could not tell what it was, but evidently dad could and he came running around the lake, no small task mind you, and got to their side before the girls could even haul 'their catch' up a very large rock. We were dismayed to discover that we had hooked a bat on the line and he came running around the lake to prevent us from touching something he thought might be sick. Tears from Cheryl at the sight of the blood, a quick snip of the line and the bat was back in the water and we were hustled back to the other side of the lake. This was one of our funniest memories of dad coming to our rescue.

Dad, being an early riser for work would follow that same pattern even on holidays. Paula, my younger sister, also an early riser, recalls fondly how on Christmas mornings she would wake all excited for the things to come and would get up around 3am just to peek. But Dad would already up and he would sit her down and she would have hot cocoa and he his coffee and was told in no uncertain terms to just sit with him in the kitchen and not look at the Christmas tree or the stockings. Obviously pure torture for a young child, but she loved that special time together with dad even if the peeking proved to be unrewarding.

Later in his retirement years he joined with his wife in their craft show adventure where they traveled around to different shows to sell the hand crafted items my mother would sew and dad would embellish, never out of the state, but always well within the borders. Mom loved to talk and socialize while Dad would work the booth and just be content to be with her.

He was predeceased by his spouse Beverly Joan who passed on June 9th 2001. After Mom's passing he was quite at loose ends but ultimately seemed to be content with his TV westerns, his breakfasts' at Great Scotts Eatery where eating, if nothing else, a good breakfast every day with waitresses that enjoyed his company. And spending his afternoons with his other widower buddies at the bar where they were affectionately known as the "Ole farts club". It was nice to know he had some buddies to spend his time with and that the wait staff were always making sure he was alright.

Gilbert had two sisters, Mrs. Wilma Martella (deceased) and his surviving sister; Mrs. Gloria Green who lives in Broomfield, Co. He has three living children a son, Stuart Hawkins age 58 who lives in Conifer, Co. and two daughters Cheryl Richardson age 54 who lives in Richmond Va and Paula VanSciver age 52, who lives in Des Moines Ia. He had 11 grandchildren: Lynne, Tonya and Josh from his youngest daughter Paula. A granddaughter Summer, from his son Stuart. 7 grandchildren from Cheryl his oldest daughter and son-in-law Jay: Noah, Peter, Julie, Dori, Merry, Eden and Faith. He had 5 great grandchildren at the time of his passing and one more on the way.

There will be no services per his wishes, but any donations in his memory can be sent to the Louisville Historical Society 1001 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027 or to the St. Joseph's Indian school in South Dakota 1301 N Main St, Chamberlain, SD 57325, where he was a donor for the last 6 years.

Any condolence wishes to the family can be posted on the Newcomers website at www.NewcomerDenver.com.