Patricia "Pat" Renee Zollinger's Obituary
"I don't like being called a matriarch" she said, "it makes me seem old." She was 78 when she said that. And to the extent that a matriarch is a woman who leads with love and wisdom, she was a matriarch. She led her husband and soul-mate Jack through their years as Aspen ski bums subsisting on poached deer, helped him through his careers as a sled-dog trainer, a private investigator, a chemist, and an aerospace contractor, and worked with him to build their dream house in Redstone, Colorado, from laying the foundation to nailing the shingles. She nurtured her daughter (Renee Zollinger), son-in-law (Danny Horns), and cherished grandsons (JJ and Lucas Horns), helping each of them grow and reach their potential. She accompanied her family on their wanderings through the western US, New York, Belize, Ireland, and Iceland. With her dearly loved friends, she was not a matriarch. Instead, she was just one of the musketeers, laughing and making the most of life. Whether it was strolling the “streets” of Redstone, working out at the Sports Mall, enjoying the wildflowers of Albion Basin, walking her perpetual puppy Murphy, or riding in a donkey cart in Greece, if Pat was there, then everyone had fun. Friends and family are invited to meet at Pat’s house at 4 PM on Sunday August 4 to celebrate her life and polish off her collection of bad wine. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Pat’s name to Ballet West.
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