David Niedringhaus

David A. Niedringhaus of Fort Collins died on Nov. 14, 2008. Dave was born to Albert Niedringhaus and Marie Hancock Niedringhaus in their home near Westphalia, Ind., on Aug. 7, 1937. He was raised on the family farm where he drove a tractor for several local farmers. In 1953, he met his future wife, Jean Killion, at 4-H camp. They attended Sandborn School and played in the band together. She carried his clarinet. He carried her trombone. Dave graduated from Sandborn H.S. in 1955, after serving as the student council president. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington where he earned a degree in Business and Accounting in 1959. Following graduation and a move to Colorado, Dave married Jean in a candlelight ceremony on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1960. They eventually settled in Fort Collins. Dave began work for Forney Industries in 1960 as a distribution manager. In 1967, he moved to the Colorado State University Controller's Office where he worked as an accountant and computer analyst for the next 32 years. Dave retired from CSU in 1999 and accepted a position with the Oracle Corporation as a principal product manager. He commuted to the Bay Area for the next two years. Dave was a wonderful partner, father and Grandy He supported Jean in building a career in long-term care and creating a catalog of policy manuals. He encouraged his kids to adventure while still keeping an eye to the pragmatic. He delighted in making limericks with his older granddaughters and in the antics of his youngest. In his spare time and during his retirement years, Dave loved to travel and fish and was a voracious reader. Dave and Jean traveled throughout Europe, Australia, Hawaii and Central America. They often celebrated their wedding anniversary by spending the month of February in Scottsdale, Ariz. In recent years, Dave and Jean took several cruises through the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Panama Canal. The cruises allowed him to get in some fishing and an occasional hand of blackjack. Dave was known for his rolling laugh, his joke-telling, his love of Dixieland jazz, and the ability to listen to and tell a story. He was an avid Rams fan, enthusiastic tailgater at Hughes Stadium and a member of the Ram's Club and the Elks Lodge BPOE #804. We'll miss his impish spirit and generous heart. He is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Scott David and wife, Jacquelyn, of Fort Collins; daughter, Susan Jean Niedringhaus and husband, Joe Schultz of Golden; three granddaughters, Cassa and Elise Niedringhaus and Brigitta Niedringhaus Schultz; brother, Donald and wife, Sandra, of North Carolina; sister-in-law, Nancy Tilly and husband, Herman, of Freelandville, Ind.; brother-in-law, Richard Killion and wife, Ruth, of Canton, Ohio; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and Jean's parents, Leon and Nathaline Killion. A memorial celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at CSU's University Club in the Lory Student Center, 1101 Center Ave. Mall, and will be followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Killion Alumni Scholarship Fund at either of the following addresses: Old National Bank 215 Washington Ave. Bicknell, Indiana 47512 or in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel 121 West Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.