Lillian M. McFerran

Lillian McFerran, age 84, died peacefully in Golden on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Lillian was preceded in death by her brother, Elmer Koneman, and her husband of 59 years, Robert McFerran. She is survived by their two daughters, Lynne Theiss (Jim) of Pine and Carolyn Kampman (Steve) of Denver, their two sons Mark McFerran of Fort Collins and Michael McFerran (Jennifer) of Georgetown, Indiana, and 11 grandchildren.

Lillian’s parents both emigrated from northern Germany. Her father, Wilhelm Koenemann (later changed to William Koneman) became a blacksmith and immigrated to the United States in June 1923. Her mother, Marie Grannemann, became a nurse. “Willie” returned to Germany in 1931 and asked Marie to come back to America with him as his wife. They were wed in October 1931 and sailed together to the United States in February 1932.

Lillian’s father worked for Gates Rubber Company when he married, and he and Marie initially settled in Denver. Lillian’s parents later moved to Golden and converted the Old Pullman Homestead on Highway 40 into a café and added a filling station. In 1938 they built another café and filling station nearby, the Snow White Café, and the family lived in an old home that existed on the property. Lillian and her brother helped with the operations of the business, and attended Daniels elementary school. In 1943 the family moved to a larger home on Van Gordon Street about a mile away from the Café. The family raised chickens and planted a “Victory Garden” that produced vegetables and fruit sufficient to nourish them through the winter. Elmer and Lillian would ride the electric trolley to watch movies in Golden and to attend Lakewood Junior High and Lakewood High School. Lillian played softball and participated in singing groups in high school. She attended prom with a handsome baseball player, Bob McFerran.

After graduating high school Lillian attended Colorado State College at Greeley studying music. Bob McFerran attended the University of Denver studying pre-dentistry. In 1955 and 1956, both Lillian and Bob worked at Stearns-Roger Manufacturing Company in Denver. Lillian worked in the steno pool during the day, and Bob worked on the janitorial crew at night. “Lil” and “Bobbie” would leave short love letters on her desk for one another, counting down the days until they would be married. They wed on December 11, 1955, at St. James Lutheran Church in Golden. In Germany, the bride would wear a wreath of myrrh as part of her veil. Lillian’s Aunt airmailed a wreath of myrrh from Germany for the wedding, and she and her Mom wove some sprigs of myrrh into the crown of her veil. A bolt of her Mom’s home-spun linen was laid down the aisle of the church.

In August of 1956 Lillian and Bob moved to Chicago where Bob attended Northwestern Dental School and where their daughter Lynne was born. When Bob graduated in June 1960 they moved to Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington, where Bob served as a Dental Officer and where their son Mark was born. In 1963 the family returned to Colorado and Bob established a family dental practice in Wheat Ridge. Both Michael and Carolyn were born there, and all four children graduated from Wheat Ridge High School.

Lillian was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved participating in the lives of her children and grandchildren, attending numerous games, matches, meets, recitals, and ceremonies. She allowed her children to care for many and varied pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, wounded magpies, and horses. She served as a den mother when her sons were in Cub Scouts. She was a terrific cook and baker who always welcomed others into her kitchen. Lillian also enjoyed her longtime friendships with a group of women that started out as a bible study group and became the “Lunch Bunch”: Anadele, Barb, Bev, Delores, Jo, Judy, Marilyn, Norma, and Vi.

Lillian’s faith was important to her and she was actively involved in activities at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, including teaching Sunday school and serving on the Altar Guild. Lillian was a talented artist who loved quilting, sewing (including a tent and multiple sleeping bags!), painting, and singing. She loved watching sports of all kinds, and was particularly fond of basketball and football. She and Bob had season tickets for the Nuggets, enjoyed watching live theatre, and truly loved spending time outdoors. In the 1970s they purchased land near Fairplay where the family camped throughout the summer and where they ultimately built a cabin where they, their children, and grandchildren could spend time together year-round.

Lillian was a reader and deep thinker. She constantly tracked her thinking in writing. She worked with her sister-in-law, Doris Koneman, to gather together her favorite recipes and those of family and friends. In 1994 she self-published these in a book, Cherished Gifts Cookbook. Those of us with well-worn copies in our kitchens are forever grateful. In 2010 she gathered and organized many of her spiritual thoughts and insights into a book that she published, Getting a Grip in God.

Lillian was kind, positive, and energetic. She taught us how to find joy in every day moments and events:

• appreciating the handprints of her grandson on her front window;

• commenting on the variety and beauty of the clouds on the horizon;

• wondering just how old the cottonwood trees along Ralston Creek were;

• smiling at the hard work of a mother barn swallow in the spring;

• enjoying big hugs from her grandchildren;

• placing the last puzzle piece; and

• enjoying a hot cup of coffee out on the deck at the cabin.

In mid-August Lillian’s family will celebrate her life and place her ashes with those of Bob in the Holy Cross Lutheran Church columbarium. We encourage those of you who knew and loved Lillian to share your stories and memories with us on this website. In honor of Lillian’s life and in lieu of flowers you may contribute to:

• Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, Hillside, Colorado (http://www.rainbowtrail.org/); or

• Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wheat Ridge, CO (https://www.holycrosswheatridge.org/).