Tributes for Feb. 3

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Dr. Carl James Gerbrandt

Oct. 27, 1940-Jan. 23, 2013

Age: 72

Residence: Platteville

Carl James Gerbrandt, 72, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family on Jan. 23, 2013, after a six-month battle with cancer. Carl was born on Oct. 27, 1940, in Meade, Kan., to a Mennonite pastor, Jacob and wife Mary, who were also school teachers and farmers.

Music was always at the center of the home. After living in Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana and South Dakota, the family settled in Reedley, Calif., when Carl was in the eighth grade. There he met Marilyn Friesen. They began dating at the end of their senior year of high school, where both graduated from Immanuel High School in 1958, and were married on Aug. 11, 1961. In 2011, their 50th anniversary was celebrated in grand style with more than 150 guests enjoying Mexican food, piñatas and decorations.

After two years at Biola University in California, he transferred to Tabor College in Kansas, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education in Voice and Conducting in 1962. He attended Wichita State University for graduate school, where he earned a Master of Music Education in Voice Performance and Choral Conducting in 1963. After returning to Tabor College to teach for three years, he and Marilyn moved to Baltimore, Md. In 1974, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University. During his time there, he also held the posts of director of admissions, opera director and voice professor. Post-doctoral studies were spent at Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie in Detmold, Germany.

He made his professional opera directing debut at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center. His staged production of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and one of his performances as bass soloist in Handel’s “Messiah” with the Annapolis Naval Academy were filmed by PBS-TV and broadcast nationwide. He also held a position as minister of music at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., for several years. During his and Marilyn’s years in Baltimore, they were blessed to have a daughter, Lynée, and a son, Gregory.

In 1979, the family moved to Louisville, Ky., where Carl created the Sacred Music Drama program at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His time in Louisville, inspired him to write his book, “Sacred Music Drama: The Producer’s Guide,” which was published in 1993; a second edition was released in 2007, by AuthorHouse Publishers. In 1983, the family moved to Greeley, where Carl was hired as director of opera theater, voice professor and graduate student advisor at the University of Northern Colorado. He retired from UNC in 2005 and was given the title of Professor Emeritus. As music director and conductor of the Greeley Chorale for 20 years, he directed the 100-voice community choir on six international concert tours and presented 10 world premieres. He initiated the Chorale’s English Madrigal Feaste in 1989 and founded the Greeley Children’s Chorale a year later.

Carl sang more than 70 opera and oratorio roles and directed more than 40 operas in his lifetime. His “Opera in Education” programs have given presentations at three national music conventions and reached thousands of young people. Carl’s true passion was nurturing his voice students and reveling in their successes — many having distinguished opera careers, including several with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

From Cambridge University in England, Carl was awarded both Visiting Fellow and Scholar research positions, the latter of which is the highest position given to a non-UK citizen. In 2006, he received the Arts Alive Award for his extraordinary service to the arts in the Greeley community, and in 2010, he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Opera Association.

In retirement, he continued to guest-direct operas and conduct concerts; when in La Paz, Mexico, he taught voice students at the music academy. The family has always loved the southern Baja region and has vacationed in San Jose del Cabo and La Paz for 27 years. The past three years have taken Carl and Marilyn on a new journey of involvement in their local English church and mission ministries in La Paz.

Carl had a love of fast cars, especially Corvettes, having both a 1973 Stingray, which he fully restored, and a factory-ordered 2008 C6. His hobbies included the following: getting his hands greasy and “in” the engines; playing basketball, tennis and running; growing fruit trees and gardening; and spontaneous fishing adventures in the Rockies, the neighborhood Pelican Lake and Baja. The family has spent many gatherings together, which included trips to Baja, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. The most significant was a three-week vacation to Mexico over the holidays of 2012, where countless treasured memories were made. You can follow his journey at www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlgerbrandt.

Services for Carl will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church of Greeley. A reception will follow in the Celebration Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greeley Chorale or TEAM Missions (www.team.org, missionary Peter Gatto) in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.

Dorothy Evelyn Mellin

Oct. 9, 1915-Jan. 29, 2013

Age: 97

Residence: Greeley

Dorothy E. Mellin of Greeley, went home to be with her Lord on Jan. 29, 2013, at Fairacres Manor. She was 97.

Dorothy was born Oct. 9, 1915, to Oscar and Maggie (Anderson) Johnson, in Kiron, Iowa, the youngest of five girls and one boy. She lived in the Kiron area until graduating from high school, when she moved to Greeley, where she met and married Irving Mellin on Dec. 24, 1939. Together they farmed in the Gill and Ault area, until retiring and moving to Greeley.

Being with family and friends and serving them gave her the greatest joy. She was a wonderful cook and used this skill to bless her family and her church for many years. No pot luck was complete without one of her pies or homemade rolls. Her kindness, smile and loving spirit were an inspiration to everyone who knew her and to those who cared for her in her last years. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her son, Kenneth (Carol) Mellin of Kersey, Colo.; a daughter, Margie (Doug) Palmer of Boulder, Colo.; six grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents, husband, four sisters and a brother.

Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, for family and friends, will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens; a 4:30 p.m. reception will follow at Mountain View Evangelical Free Church, 6253 28th St., Greeley.

Contributions may be made to the church in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634.

Joseph Beechner Sr.

Joseph Calvin Beechner Sr., 88, of LaSalle, passed away Jan. 31, 2013, at his home. He was born April 13, 1924, in Minoa, N.Y., to Charles and Eda Beechner.

On Nov. 13, 1942, he joined the Marines and served until Nov. 13, 1945. He married his first wife, Wanda, in 1946; they separated in 1966, and divorced in 1973. To this marriage five children were born. He married Debra Bernard on Oct. 27, 1973; he was the love of Debra’s life for 39 years.

Joseph loved his family, cats, dogs, the Adirondack Mountains in New York, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, his flowers, birds and squirrels.

He is survived by his wife, Debra; two sons, Joseph Beechner Jr. and Charles Beechner, both of Syracuse, N.Y.; two daughters, Linda Singleton of Fayetteville, N.C., and Missy Beechner of Arizona; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Betty Beechner.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Milton Beechner; one sister, Margaret (June) Dunlap and her husband Blaine; and one son, Mark Beechner.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at Adamson Chapel, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at Adamson Chapel. A private interment will be held.

Gene Cable

June 21, 1933-Jan. 30, 2013

Age: 79

Residence: Eaton

Clarence Eugene Cable, “Gene” as most people knew him, 79, of Eaton, Colo., passed away Jan. 30, 2013, at Centennial Healthcare Center in Greeley. He was born June 21, 1933, in Dundalk, Md., to Mervin and Irma (Seabold) Cable.

Gene grew up in Glendale, Calif., and graduated from Glendale High School. He served in the Navy and was honorably discharged on March 22, 1956. On Jan. 9, 1954, he and Connie Chasteen were united in marriage and in life for more than 58 years. Together, they raised their family in Burbank, Calif., and retired in Apple Valley, Calif., in 1986. They relocated to Colorado in 2005, to be closer to family — especially their grandchildren. Gene enjoyed volunteering as a Scout Master and for the Union Colony Civic Center, and also enjoyed working in his yard, spending time with his cats and eating candy! He was a member of the American Legion and Faith Lutheran Church in Eaton. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Gene is survived by his sons, Thomas Cable of Greeley and William A. Cable of Van Nuys, Calif.; daughter, Karen (Thomas) Ventrone of Boone, N.C.; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Norma Smith of Texas; and a brother, Monte Cable of Mesa, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie; and his parents.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at Faith Lutheran Church, 800 Cheyenne Ave. in Eaton. Inurnment will be at Eaton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northern Colorado in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.adamsonchapels.com.

Carol Heinze

June 21, 1944-Jan. 31, 2013

Age: 68

Residence: Greeley

Carol Ann Heinze, 68, of Greeley, passed away Jan. 31, 2013, in the care of Hospice of Northern Colorado at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. She was born June 21, 1944, in Fort Collins, Colo., to Harold and Louise (Hunter) Stroh.

Carol grew up on the family farm northeast of Fort Collins and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1962. She continued her education at Colorado State University. Two years into her studies at CSU, Carol and Larry Heinze were united in marriage in Fort Collins, on June 21, 1964.

Because Larry was serving in the Air Force, Carol continued her education at various locations and universities over the next few years and completed her degree at the University of Northern Colorado. Carol was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, then later worked for the American Cancer Society, Greeley-Evans School District 6 and Aims Community College, where she was an admissions counselor. She retired from Aims in 2004, which gave her more time for playing tennis, traveling and especially spending more time with her grandchildren. Carol and Larry also enjoyed traveling in their motor home and wintering in Arizona. Carol was a member of the Loveland Rotary Club, Greeley Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter, Greeley Republican Women, Tennis Association of Greeley, First Congregational United Church of Christ and Aims Community College Foundation Board.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Heinze of Greeley; son, Brian Heinze and wife Julie of Evergreen, Colo.; daughter, Lauren Gilhooly and husband Todd of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Keegan, Liam and Todd Gilhooly, all of San Antonio; brother, Tom Stroh of Evans; and sister, Margaret Collart of Palo Alto, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2101 16th St., Greeley, Colo. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions will be used to for a scholarship in Carol’s memory and may be made to Aims Community College Foundation in care of Adamson Funeral Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.adamsonchapels.com.