Grace Marjorie Westerbeck

Born in rural Minnesota February 26, 1921, Grace was the sixth of thirteen children born to William and Eva Zimmerman. Although she lived close to her family her youngest years were with a couple who she always called her second mom and dad, Albin and Minnie Holmquist. She recalled the time when Lindbergh landed his plane in her family’s Minnesota cornfield and then was so excited when hearing he had flown all the way to Paris. Then growing up on a farm in Iowa, she tells stories of the depression years, hard work and perseverance. She never learned to ride a bike, but remembers riding a white farm horse named Beauty on the Holmquist farm. If she didn’t get her morning chores done in time to catch a ride with the milkman, she would trudge the road 2 ½ miles to school each day (in snow). When asked what modern convenience she most appreciated, she said “indoor plumbing.”

When she met and married Forrest Westerbeck in 1940, she couldn’t have envisioned the difficult years ahead as right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Forrest enlisted in the Army Air Corp and would be fighting in both the African and Italian Campaigns. As a young military wife and new mother of her daughter Sandra, Grace was one of the original Rosie the Riveters as she worked in an ammunitions plant in Iowa making bullets. After Forrest returned a second child John was born and the family resided in Des Moines, Iowa where Forrest worked at the Des Moines Register while still in the National Guard. In 1947 when the Army Air Forces became a separate element of the United States Armed Forces, Forrest joined the United States Air Force. For 26 years her military family would travel the country and the world. During that time Grace and Forrest lost a child, Valerie at birth, but welcomed a new daughter Dixie a year later.

When retiring from the Air Force, they moved to Denver. Forrest who for years had a second job as a projectionist at the military bases, would start his second career at Denver theaters eventually running the East Drive In in Aurora for many years. After his death in 1978, Grace continued as concession manager for over 20 years. Her grandchildren remember fondly the great pizzas Grandma made and the families always had bags of popcorn around.

Grace was a quiet and unassuming person who expertly worked in the background of every organization she belonged. Volunteering with the Senior Friends/H2U at Aurora South Medical Center fulfilled her and made enduring friends. Years with The Military Widows and The Gold Star Wives continued her support for veterans and military events. There is a shelf of bowling trophies and hundreds of coupons received from wins at BINGO at MacDonald’s, and she loved gambling in Cripple Creek and Black Hawk.

Grace was always amazed that from her rural beginnings that she would be so fortunate to travel the world. She covered four continents, over 20 countries and most of the United States. Many of her travels were cruises with friends, family trips to Europe, the Caribbean and often visiting countries where her son John was serving in the Air Force.

Having been widowed for 42 years, Grace made her home in Aurora for 53 years and was matriarch to five generations. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Forrest, daughters Dixie and Valerie. Her survivors include her daughter Sandra White (Aurora, CO). Son John Westerbeck, Col,USAF(ret) ( Sherriann) (San Antonio, TX), son-in-law Ron Boyce (Gina) , her remaining sibling Rose Travis(Bob) (Marietta, OK), brothers-in-law. Gary Hall (Mary) (Denver, CO) Duane Hawbaker Adel, IA), 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, and many inspired nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30pm on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the Pavilion of Reflection with a reception to follow.

She was laid to rest with her husband at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in late December 2020.