Helen Stammen Obituary

Helen Virginia Stammen, born Bridges, died peacefully on Sunday, April 15, 2007, one month before her 87th birthday, at Life Care Center. She was born on May 13th, 1920, in Colorado Springs to Hubert and Virginia Bridges. She married Joseph F. Stammen Sr. in 1947. She was a socially active person from her youth. As a child she was an acrobatic dancer, and in her youth was active in sports and loved horseback riding. She graduated from Colorado Springs High School (Palmer High School), and majored in Physical Education at the University of New Mexico. She held a permanent Civil Service Classification and worked as supervisor of Stock Control and Chief Clerk in Surplus Property at Fort Carson. She was also secretary in a legal firm in Los Angeles and with the Automobile Club of Southern California. She was a Secretary-Bookkeeper at several nursing homes in Colorado Springs, finally retiring from Colonial Columns. Helen had been a very active member of the Isaak Walton League of America since 1958, serving both in state wide and national positions. She loved Colorado and was active in diverse activities to see her state retain its natural beauty and preserving hunting and fishing activities to be enjoyed by all. Among other things she was appointed by Governor John A. Love of Colorado to his Executive Committee to establish "Keep Colorado Beautiful". In 1994 Helen suffered a stroke in the aftermath of an operation, which required her to be in the care of a nursing home. While her health permitted she attended the services at First Pentecostal Church, and also later enjoyed their nursing home services and visitations. She is survived by her children, Joseph F. Stammen Jr. of Alaska and Cynthia Stammen (Geir-André) Kvarud of Norway, and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Marian Laxson, and a nephew. A memorial service is to be held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2 pm in the Fireside Room at Life Care Center, 2490 International Circle, Colorado Springs.