Eldene Elaine Ronnekamp

Eldene Elaine Ronnekamp was born on June 9, 1953 to Vern and Lydia (Schliebe) Ronnekamp in McCook, Nebraska. She grew up and attended school in Gothenburg, Nebraska where she participated in choir, played the clarinet in the school band and was a cheerleader. Denie graduated from Kearney State College and received her Bachelor’s in Accounting. She began her career working for the state of Nebraska at the Commission of Women, and then moved to the Department of Agriculture. She pursued a graduate degree and received her Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance, from The University of Denver. Denie met Bryan Nordin in Gothenburg, started dating in college and they married on December 28, 1985. Denie continued her career path at Time Warner Cable, was a stay at home mom with her children while Geoff and Jayme were young and finally settled at Rocky Mountain Air Solutions, where she worked for the past 20 years.

Denie was always an active participant in every organization, many times the glue that held everything together. She was a member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and was elected to the church board. She helped re-open and was on the PTA at Slavens School and volunteered at many local organizations in Denver. Denie loved being outside. Some of her favorite activities included gardening, especially spotting the first tulip or daffodil of the spring season, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, outdoor concerts or just sitting on the deck enjoying the shade of the big silver maple. She was always eager to try a new adventure. Regularly we would take different routes home from school or church, to see a different part of the neighborhood. In 1981 she went backpacking through Europe and as a family in 2017 we went to Cuba, checking another thing off of her bucket list.

Denie never backed down from a challenge or a tough task. She could out work anyone on any type of job. She was the strongest person. Denie was an amazing wife, mother, sister and friend. Always supportive, encouraging everyone to achieve their best and to dream big. She was the best listener, wise beyond her years and gave logical down to earth advice, even if it was hard to accept at times. She was compassionate, centered and cared for everyone around her. She valued her faith and family above all else.

Denie is survived by her husband Bryan Nordin; two children Geoffrey and Jayme Nordin of Denver, CO; four brothers Arlan (Tip) Ronnekamp of Gothenburg, NE, Bob Ronnekamp of Gothenburg, NE, Curt (Carolyn) Ronnekamp of Towanda, IL, David (Donna) Ronnekamp of Jacksonville, FL; one brother-in-law Lane (Terri) Nordin of Gothenburg, NE; one mother-in-law Elizabeth Nordin of Gothenburg, NE; many nephews and nieces, cousins and a multitude of friends. Denie is preceded in death by her parents Vern and Lydia Ronnekamp, and her father-in-law Donald Nordin.

Memorials are suggested to Urban Peak, Denver.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at Olinger Hampden Mortuary and Cemetery in Denver. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver. Friends and relatives will have the opportunity to pay their respects one hour prior to the service.