Laurel Ann Walters

1939-2013

Laurel (Laurie) Walters, age 74, of Colorado Springs and a native of Colorado, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2013 after a long battle with cancer.

Laurel Ann Nikkel, the first of two children, was born on March 27, 1939, in Yuma, Colorado to the late J. Leonard and Ethel Bowman Nikkel. Her family moved to Denver when she was 2 and she attended Denver South HS where she was Student Council Vice President and Section Leader of Concert Choir. A Boettcher scholar, Laurie attended the University of Colorado, Boulder where she was a Distributed Studies major in Math, Physics and Chemistry. While at CU Laurie was active in her Delta Gamma sorority and she met her husband, Jack, who was a Sigma Chi. They were married on December 30, 1958 at University Park Methodist Church. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in 1961.

Laurie worked for the United States Census Bureau from 1974-2000. She retired following her service as a Field Operations Supervisor for the 2000 census. She received promotions and achievement awards for superior performance, and was recognized for 20 years of service in June, 1995. Laurie actively volunteered in many organizations, including St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Board of Trustees, Reception Committee, Choirs, Bible Studies and Sunday school), Delta Gamma Alumni and Girl Scouts of America.

Singing and performing was her passion, but she also enjoyed travelling the world with family and close friends, sharing life and special events with her family (especially the grandkids), gardening, interior decorating, sewing, watching and caring for birds, playing bridge and doing crafts.

Laurie had a strong will and lived each day to its fullest. She battled and beat cancer in 1989, and then fought it again from 2011-13. She always smiled and had few complaints. When asked how she maintained such a positive outlook she would respond “what other choice is there?”

Laurie is survived by her husband of 54 years, John “Jack” Walters; two children: Jay Walters of Denver and Lisa Walther (husband Jim) of Broomfield. She has six grandchildren: John “Billy” Walters (wife Danielle) of Tucson, AZ, Ashley Walters and Tiffany Walters of Phoenix, AZ, and Jack Walther, Juliana Walther and Karinne Walther all of Broomfield, CO. She is also survived by her brother, Bill Nikkel, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, John Walters (wife Dawn), of Phoenix, AZ.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.