Walter Frank Ackerman

Walter F. Ackerman

1943-2023

Walter F. Ackerman was born on May 19, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to AnnaBelle and the Rev. Walter H. Ackerman. He was the eldest of seven children. Walt attended Christian schools in Wellsburg, IA, Pease, MN, Englewood, IL, and Lynden, WA. He attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. Walt and his beloved wife Carol were married in Grand Rapids on September 2, 1966. Walt was drafted into the US Army shortly afterward and served in Viet Nam in 1967-68. His unit was in combat for almost all his tour and he was injured in the line of duty. After completing his military service, he worked as a food service manager for Saga Foods. He and Carol have two daughters, Ann, born on August 12, 1970, in Houghton, MI, and Betsy, born on September 28, 1973, in Boulder, CO. The family lived in Boulder for many years and attended Crestview Christian Reformed Church. Walt received a Master’s Degree in Tax from the University of Colorado in 1995 and became an auditor for the State of Colorado Department of Revenue, where he worked until his retirement in 2006. Walt and Carol later moved to Superior, CO, and then to Littleton, CO. Walt attended First Christian Reformed Church in Denver from 2007 to the present.

Walt was a lifelong member of the Christian Reformed Church. He served the churches he attended faithfully and joyfully in many ways including teaching Sunday school and as Deacon and Elder. He served as Stated Clerk for Classis Rocky Mountain of the Christian Reformed Church for many years. Walter and Carol volunteered time with World Renew Disaster Response Services, including 10 years as team leader. This work took them to areas devastated by natural disasters all across the United States, including the 2013 floods in Colorado. Their efforts with World Renew also took them to East Africa where Walt taught classes in finance and accounting to small business entrepreneurs.

Walt also served the communities where he lived in a variety of ways. He refereed youth soccer games in Boulder. He was on the board of the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless for approximately eight years. He was on the Board of the Summit at Rock Creek condo community in Superior for 17 years and treasurer for much of that time. During his tenure, he diligently supervised a multi-million dollar project to reinforce building foundations. While in Littleton, he volunteered at East Elementary School.

Walt was a kind and gracious person who made friends everywhere he went because he valued everyone that he met and was keenly interested in their stories. He had a special place in his heart for small children and people with physical limitations or mental impairments. He was endlessly curious about the world around him in all its aspects, especially biological and natural sciences. He enjoyed sports of all kinds, but was especially devoted to baseball. He seemed to have a fondness for struggling franchises as he supported the Rockies, the Cubs and the Broncos. His family and friends were often recipients of Walt’s clippings, news items that he found in newspapers and magazines that he thought would be of interest to that particular person. He will be deeply missed by his family, his church community, and his broad circle of friends.

Walt is survived by his wife Carol, his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Joseph Rajewski, his daughter Betsy, and his grandson RJ; his six siblings, Elsa Fennema, Lois Raap, Thomas, Ellen Hoebeke, Millie DeKock, and Daniel; and his brother-in-law John Battjes and wife Barbara. He is survived by 23 nieces and nephews.

Donations in remembrance of Walter’s life may be made in his name to World Renew at https://worldrenew.net/.

A visitation for Walter will be held Monday, December 4, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at First Christian Reformed Church Of Denver, 1814 S. Emerson St, Denver, CO 80210.

A graveside service will occur Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Fort Logan National Cemetery Staging Area "C", 4400 W. Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236.