Galen Crowder

Survived by wife Angeline, brother Don, daughters Denise Perkins (Steve), Kimberly Griffin (Jerry), Christine Lukowicz (Stan), Step-sons, Steve (Melinda) Rinaldo and David (Nancy) Rinaldo, 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Galen Crowder was born in Exeter, Nebraska to Bert and Viola (Zweig) Crowder on March 17, 1937. He graduated from Exeter High School in 1955 and after attending Doane College in Crete, NE, he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1959. He later attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and received his Master's degree. After teaching in Crete for several years, he moved his young family to Colorado in 1966. He worked in the Littleton Public Schools at Isaac Newton and Grant Middle Schools as Assistant Principal. In 1972 he moved to the Cherry Creek School District and became the Assistant Principal at Campus Middle School. In 1975 he accepted the challenge of opening the new Laredo Middle School. He truly loved "his" school...the students, the teachers, the staff, the parents. From the beginning Laredo was filled with a positive spirit for learning and for life; a school that burst with energy, and most important--a school that loved and cared for each child. It existed because its principal set high standards of excellence. As the years passed, Galen became very active in state and national professional organizations and pursued more education, earning his Doctorate from Nova University.

Although education was his passion, his greatest joy was loving and nurturing his grandchildren-- Aaron & Russell Santistevan; Rachel, Haley & Renee Lukowicz; Daniel, Melissa & Michael Rinaldo into adulthood. His pride in each knew no bounds. He filled his retirement years with travel, OLLI adult education classes, serving on community boards, volunteering for various orgnizations, gardening, and caring for the beautiful landscape around his home. He was recently honored when the new Laredo Middle School library was dedicated to him.

There were so many things to love about Galen-his smile, his kind spirit, his good heart, his helpful nature, his enthusiasm for life, and the way he looked after the family and friends that he loved . God has him in his keeping; we have him in our hearts.

Services at 11am Thursday, May 17, 2018; Horan & McConaty, 5303 E. County Line Road. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Galen's memory to the Colorado Alzheimer's Association or the RECCS Scholarship Fund-4700 S. Yosemite St. Englewood, CO 80111.