Gwendolyn (Zipperle) Kaye

Gwendolyn Kaye was born on February 10, 1954 in Denver. She was adopted by Roy and Juanita (McGinnis) Tomblinson, joining older sister Eula Mae and brother Russell Deroy.

Gwen's brother Russell developed Cerebral Palsy at birth, which caused severe physical handicaps. Disabled children of this era were more likely to be sent to an institution than educated, but the Tomblinsons fought for a different life for Russell. Juanita was instrumental in the foundation of the Cerebal Palsy Center of Colorado in 1952, a school for children with CP and other disabilities. Gwen's early life was shaped by her family's efforts to help these children, and it was important to her that her own children grow up to be respectful and compassionate to all.

Known as the "beautiful one" by the McGinnis cousins, Gwen was a true "girly girl" and loved feminine clothing, and keeping a beautiful home. Her sister Mae recalls how a friend of their mother's made young Gwen so many beautiful princess dresses that she had a new one almost every day.

The Tomblinsons were devoted church-goers and Gwen professed her faith in Jesus Christ at a young age. This faith would play a very important role in her life, and the lives of her family. Gwen graduated from Wheatridge High School in 1972, and married Stephen Zipperle the following year. Although they were later to divorce, Gwen and Steve raised two children, Cory and Audrey, together.

As Steve worked long hours as an officer in the Denver police department, often on the second or third shift while the kids were young, Gwen always made sure Cory and Audrey were cared for and the household ran smoothly. Like any good Denver mom, after each blizzard, she would bundle the kids up and let them loose outside to make snow forts and throw snowballs at each other while she made cookies and cocoa. Family trips up into the mountains and to Phoenix to see the Zipperle grandparents are fond memories for both of her children.

Gwen was a talented cook and baker. Every Christmas, she and the kids would bake thousands of pizzelle cookies - thin cookies made with a waffle iron. Cory recalls seeing stacks and stacks of the cooling cookies all over the kitchen. The family would package the cookies up and deliver them to friends and family. Cory will always remember the trip she made to visit him at college in Kansas, bringing bags and bags of her famous Cowboy Cookies for him and his roommates.

She was very involved in several Christian Churches in Denver over the years, teaching high school youth group at Westside Christian Church and Northglenn Christian Church in the 1990's, and later attending Christian Church of Broomfield and Rocky Mountain Christian Church where she worked as a sign language translator for the deaf members of the congregation. Gwen also spent many an hour at Audrey's gymnastics meets and Cory's piano recitals. Quilting was another favorite hobby, and she had quite an extensive thimble collection.

As the kids grew older, Gwen entered the workforce as a cook at the Ranum High School kitchen. Cory recalls sneaking into the kitchen with his friend Jeff Mitchell and grabbing cookies from Gwen or one of the other lunch ladies. It was a challenge for Cory and Audrey to attend school where their mom worked, because any reports of (Cory's) misbehavior and secret boyfriends or girlfriends inevitably found their way to her. Even in a large high school like Ranum, a name like Zipperle stood out.

Gwen later worked at the Adams County School District 50 administrative offices as an assistant to the Athletic Director of Ranum, and then the Athletic Director of the district.

Extended family was very important to Gwen, and she kept in close contact with the McGinnis aunts, uncles and cousins and the Bisbee nieces and nephews until her illness made this impossible.

Gwen loved dogs and always had at least one around the house at all times. They were her other "babies." She loved rescue animals and adopted many of her pets from the Dumb Friends League.

Gwen's passing is a result of a degenerative brain disorder which doctors believe was triggered by a fall on the ice in 2004. Gwen steadily declined both cognitively and physically in the years that followed. Her daughter Audrey took over responsibility for her care beginning in 2005, and worked tirelessly to make sure she had the best possible quality of life throughout her decline.

Her ability to communicate verbally decreased over the years, and it was hard for her loved ones to see the changes in her condition. Although she slipped far away from those who loved her in the years leading up to her death, Gwen was able to recognize her children, grandchildren and close friends up until the very end of her life, for which they are grateful. The family would like to thank Gwen's dear friend Lewis, Brett Burke, and the staff at Bear Creek Care and Rehabilitation Center and SolAmor Hospice for their compassion and care.

Gwen is survived by her son Cory and his wife Shelly; daughter Audrey and her children, Bailey and Ryan; sister Mae Emerson, husband Jack and children Michael, Russell, Mark and Myndi; uncle Perry McGinnis and numerous McGinnis, Bisbee, Felix, Boyer and Bennett cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Juanita Tomblinson, and brother Russell.

Memorials may be made in memory of Gwen to the Cerebral Palsy Center of Colorado, 801 Yosemite Denver, CO 80230 or online at www.cpco.org.

It is probably human nature to look for lessons in the unexplainable, and while we do not know why Gwen's life ended the way it did, we can only hope to leave a similar legacy of love of God and family, service to one's church, and kindness to all.