Madeline Wambolt

July 1, 1923-May 26, 2016

Age: 92

Residence: Greeley

Madeline Eleanor Wambolt went to be with our Heavenly Father on May 26, 2016. She was born in Loveland on July 1, 1923, to John and Mary Kay Borgens (Bostren) and baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. She grew up with her 15 siblings in Loveland, Kersey and Timnath, where she learned at an early age to share and be helpful as much as possible with family and neighbors. While attending the country school of Loveland, they traveled two miles each day by horse and buggy or walking. She participated in the track team in the Timnath School.

Madeline married Alec Wambolt on July 5, 1940, in Wyoming. They raised six children in the Windsor area while farming and running a dairy operation for more than 34 years. She and one of her kids would milk those cows twice daily, 365 days a year. She named each cow and they would wait their turn to be called by their name to be milked. She and several of the kids thinned the crops and kept fields weed free, all by hand. Madeline made sure the kids always had plenty to eat and clean clothes to wear. She made sure each of them were baptized and confirmed and taught them to get their work done before they played.

After retiring from the farm in 1975, they moved to Greeley, where they worked for the Western Mutual Ditch Company for another 18 years. She received and relayed water orders from the many farmers, keeping records of how much each was allowed over the growing season. She also helped Alec to keep the ditch in as good shape as possible.

Madeline conquered any task put before her but she truly enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, canning, making noodles, baking, sewing, crocheting (made hundreds of pairs of house slippers and sock monkeys with blouses and skirts, or pants and shirts because they too deserved to look nice). She was quite talented at doing jigsaw puzzles, found all answers in crossword puzzles, loved word search and read countless books. She was very devoted to supporting and spending time with her family. She loved playing games with her grandchildren such as Scrabble, Chinese checkers and dominoes. The kids only won if she let them, no matter their age. If they thought they were going to beat her, forget it — not going to happen unless she allowed it. Her grandkids referred to her as “magic Grandma” because of her ability to find things that were missing or needed, create a wonderful meal in minutes and invent games and activities. Proud of her heritage, Madeline loved to cook German dishes and often said a prayer at mealtime in German.

When she was 75 years old, she began volunteering at the Madison Elementary School Library and faithfully worked 40 hours a week for 13 years. She loved her job and all the friends she made at school, and she was truly honored to have that library named after her as she retired. Her smile, wit and laughter warmed everyone’s heart.

Madeline was preceded in death by her parents; 14 siblings; husband, Alec; daughter, Ruth; son, Alex; daughter-in-law, Lynne; sons-in-law, Lt. Col. Gordon Winder and Vern Lentz; and grandchildren, Amanda and Kevin.

She is survived by children, Janet Winder, Judith Lentz, Robert (Benjawan) Wambolt, James (Cindy) Wambolt; one sister, Mildred Meyers; and one sister-in-law, Alma Borgens; she has 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Madeline’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2016, at Adamson Chapel 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, Colo. 80634. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Windsor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “The Seva Community (www.sevacommunity.org),” a local non-profit organization that provides reading material and activities to young parents and their children in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, Colo. 80634