Ward Adams Obituary

Ward Waidner
Adams
December 7, 1935
October 17, 2024

Ward Waidner Adams lived a full life with an abundance of faith, wonder, tenderness and love. He passed peacefully from this world on the 17th of October after a cheerful day with family.
Ward was a very curious person with a remarkable memory. He read extensively and enjoyed learning until his last day. He had an ongoing interest in understanding the way the world worked. During his life journey his scope widened, and he came to fully recognize God's role in the universe and His offer of renewal. He relied on the faith he developed over the course of his life and made his final calling a humble ministry to share with others the gift of The Holy Spirit. Of all the inquiries and discoveries in the course of his life, Ward's understanding of God's Word was most effective in granting him lasting peace.
Ward was soft spoken and unassuming. However, those who knew him well also knew of his passions- his precious wife, Anna, his family, his church, God's Word, American exceptionalism, history and politics. While passionate about a few things in particular, there was not a limit to his general interests. In fact, there was little that did not interest Ward. He enjoyed reading and often shared his thoughts in long conversations with anyone who would listen. He loved everything from architecture to the natural world, even poetry. Ward loved a good laugh too. Limericks were his favorite genre and reading them often resulted in tears of mirth.
There was much he understood, and his wisdom became such a valued asset within his family and his community. There is hardly a day that passes now that one of his family members or friends doesn't long for a conversation with Papa Ward to solve an intractable problem or shed light on a mechanical mystery of some sort.
The breadth of his knowledge never seemed to dull his interests or dampen his enthusiasm. He delighted in keeping old tools, like the hand drill he used to build his own boats on Lake Minnetonka as a boy. He marveled at things of beauty-great writing, classic cars, fine art, lovely gardens or a beautiful sunrise. His was a curiosity that nourished a keen mind.
Ward spent several years in military service with the Army Reserves, was married for 60 years, worked for 35 years as an agent with State Farm Insurance, and designed his home and business office in Colorado Springs. He was a dedicated coach for many youth sports teams, was always fully engaged with his family and enjoyed 11 grandchildren. Through all these experiences he worked at developing his intellect, refined his knack for solving problems and always treated others with love and respect.
He had a special relationship with his grandson Henry. In the early years, they spent hours together chatting about myriad topics of interest: golfing, reading and drawing wild animals. That relationship flourished well into Henry's adulthood, when their long conversations evolved into talk of sophisticated military weapon systems, feats of engineering genius, relationships, taxes and military history. But still saved in Ward's papers were drawings shared with a little boy, signed by Papa and Henry.
Ward's effort to live the life God intended for him tempered the grief his family felt as he passed beyond the veil to live at the right hand of his Heavenly Father. He helped his three children, Anne, Joe and Hank, to navigate life and value family and their faith. He established beautiful family traditions with Anna, and he fostered an interest in the world and God's Word by exemplifying a quest for knowledge and love for all.
He leaves his three children and their spouses, his 11 grandchildren, his brother, Timothy Adams and wife Mary, and his sister-in-law, Jerry Adams Jones. His brother Harry Adams, sister Priscilla Hennessy and wife, Sylvia "Anna" Adams predeceased him. Donations can be made in Ward's name to The Parkinson Association of the Rockies.
The family of Ward Adams will celebrate his life when he is interred at The Broadmoor Community Church in the Meditation Glen on Saturday, the 2nd of August at 10:00am. Friends and associates of Mr. Adams are cordially invited to attend the service and reception at the church.