Grace Rebecca Zach

Grace R. Zach, 97, of Fort Collins died Saturday, December 6th, 2025.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm December 20th at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Reverend Cheri Jensen will officiate.

Grace Hemphill was born September 9, 1928, in Rocky Ford, Colorado, one of six children of Frederick and Gladys Hemphill.

She grew up on mountain ranches near Cotopaxi, Colorado. The family moved to Pueblo, Colorado where Grace graduated from Centennial High School in 1946.

She graduated from the Colorado State College of Education, at the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor's degree in 1950, and completed her master's degree at Colorado State University in 1971.

While teaching at Fort Collins High School in 1950, she met Robert E. Zach. They married on August 26, 1951, and lived in Fort Collins, and Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, until his death in 1995.

In 1998, while volunteering on Susan Kirkpatrick's campaign for Colorado's Fourth Congressional District , Grace met and married Susan's father, George Dischinger, on September 24, 2000. They lived in Fort Collins until he passed away in 2009.

Grace Zach's teaching career began at Fort Collins High School. She taught, English, Speech, and coached debate winners in state and national competitions. She taught at Poudre High School, soon after it opened, and went on to become Head of the Poudre English Department. She was known for team teaching Senior Humanities with the future State Senator Bob Bacon. She was chosen Poudre R-1 Teacher of the year in 1982. Grace and Robert were honored by the naming of Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins.

After retirement she was President of the Crystal Lakes Home Owner's Association Board in Red Feather Lakes. While living in that mountain community, she began painting and sketching, illustrating and producing newsletters and local histories. She practiced and taught Tai Chi. She was an active and involved member of Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living. In continuing involvement with Poudre Schools, she hosted and mentored exchange teachers from China.

She studied the writings of William Blake, visiting the Blake historical home in England and producing a play based on Blake's life. She was a breast cancer survivor. She enjoyed travel, throughout her life, and had visited each state's capitol, as well as Mexico, Canada, Peru, Belize, Europe, India, and China.

Survivors include her son, Randy Zach, daughter, Diane Zach (Sue White). As well as, George Dischinger's children: Susan (Allen) Kirkpatrick, Chip Dischinger (Teresa Wakeen), Tom (Sylvia) Dischinger, and John Dischinger. Grandchildren: Anne (Matt) Norrdin, Robert (Kristin) Kirkpatrick, George Dischinger, Henry (Chelsea) Dischinger, Benjamin Dischinger, Andrew Dischinger, Ellie Dischinger and Jack Dischinger.
Great-Grandchildren: Maeve and Michael Norrdin, Thomson, Charlotte and Theo Kirkpatrick.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents Frederick and Gladys Hemphill, brothers: Harold, Gerald, John, and James Hemphill, and sister Mary Lowman.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bas Bleu Theatre Company, or the Poudre School District Foundation in Grace's memory.