Gwenn Hoberg

Gwenn Orton Hoberg, age 82 of Denver, formerly of Vail Colorado, died December 12, 2018. Heartfelt thanks to everyone at Denver Hospice for their loving support of Gwenn and Cyndi these past six months.

Friends are invited any time between 3:30 and 5:00 pm on Friday, January 25, 2019 to the Wellington Square clubhouse in Denver.

Gwenn was born on the Orton farm in Benton county, outside of Sauk Rapids Minnesota to Orrie and Opal Orton. When she was 7 years old they moved to a farm in Stewart MN. Friends recall her smile and good times spent together at the state and county fairs, 4-H, roller-skating, proms and dancing. She graduated from Stewart high school in 1954. Gwenn attended Mankato State College renting a 2-bedroom basement apartment with 8 girls. Times were hard. Her father became ill so she put herself through her last three years by working at Brett's department store in Mankato, starting in alterations and then selling and modeling dresses, formals and bridal gowns in their shows and in private homes. Gwenn was nominated for the Mankato beauty contest by her roommates and was one of the finalists. Brett's was her sponsor and they were very good to Gwenn. Gwenn graduated June 1958 receiving her bachelor's degree in Home Economics with art and general science minors. Friends remember Gwenn was required to do a large showing of her artwork prior to graduation and recall her beautiful oil paintings.

Gwenn met Darrel Hoberg of Lake Benton, Minnesota in July of 1958. That September Gwenn began full-time teaching Home Ec and adult education at the school in Butterfield MN, while Darrel continued his 4th year at Mankato State College taking engineering classes and working as a draftsman-architect in St Peter MN. They married in the Orton's little Methodist church in Stewart MN on December 28, 1958. Gwenn made her own wedding gown of soft white velvet; the hemline was white satin. After the end of the June 1959 school year they moved to IL where Darrel worked at Burger-Kelly Architecture. Daughter Cynthia was born the following January; son Scott 4 years later in April. In 1965 Gwenn had ovarian cancer surgery and 20 cobalt radiation treatments. It was a frightening time. Scott was still a baby and spent a week or two with Fred & Donna (Hoberg) Knez while Gwenn was recovering in the hospital. Gwenn and Darrel started Hoberg Construction Co, Inc in WI in 1972, built a home designed by Darrel on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh in 1975, but lost the business and home in 1977. Times were hard but Gwenn writes of lots of good times too, with their families & friends--watching fireworks over the lake; trips to Bermuda, Hawaii & Florida; golfing & camping with Ralph's family and employees of Hoberg Construction; Green Bay Packer games; fishing from their boat at Point Beach State Park; visiting siblings and extended Orton & Hoberg families in MN, IL, WI, and MI; and many happy hours playing bridge and golf. Gwenn enjoyed all kinds of cooking and trading recipes, sewing, knitting, and embroidery; making bedspreads and curtains; clothing; baby blankets and sweaters; xmas ornaments & cards; tablecloths; as well as great Halloween costumes for her children. Her daughter always had the best-dressed Barbie dolls as Gwenn made them beautiful outfits. When they moved out west Gwenn enjoyed taking family and friends to Yellowstone. When Cyndi's college friend Lori lost her mother to ovarian cancer their freshman year, Gwenn began sending care packages to Lori too. Gwenn and Darrel followed their daughter to Denver CO in November 1982; she considered herself lucky to have family nearby. Gwenn and Cyndi enjoyed many years together ice skating on Evergreen Lake & 16th Street mall, cross-country skiing, hiking, baking xmas cookies & candy, and watching Scott play and coach football. Gwenn returned to the work-force after 16 years as a home-maker. She and Darrel divorced in November 1989 after 31 years of marriage. Her last jobs were HR director of the historic Oxford Hotel in Denver for 2 years, then Vail Valley Medical Center for 9 years, before returning to Denver and working at Briarwood HC center. In retirement Gwenn loved being with her grandkids Katie & Cole and watching them grow to adulthood. She enjoyed movies & 2 trips to the Virgin Islands with friend Dawn; travels with sister Jean all over the US and Canada; sight-seeing with sister-in-law Donna Knez; visiting extended Orton & Hoberg/Koehne families; being a volunteer usher at the Denver Center of Performing Arts; concerts at the Denver Botanic Gardens; golfing up at Evergreen; driving across Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain Natl Park; autumn weekends at Grand Lake leaf-peeping; driving around the neighborhood looking at Xmas lights; and year-round enjoyment of the Denver Zoo.

Gwenn is survived by her daughter Cyndi Hoberg of Denver, CO; son Scott Hoberg of Hartline, WA; grand-daughter Katie (Parker) Burton of Umatilla, OR; grandson Cole (Ashleigh) Hoberg of Sunnyside, WA; sister Jean Hegman of St Cloud, MN; and brother Ralph (Julie) Orton of Omro, WI. Gwenn was preceded in death by her parents Orrie and Opal Orton, and brother Sam Orton of Scottville, MI.

Gwenn loved travel, golf, museums, zoos, and gardens; but most of all she loved & cherished her families and life-long friends. She leaves a gaping hole that can never be filled.

Memorials are preferred to the Denver Hospice (a non-profit) which provided Gwenn's comfort and care during her last six months, or to the Denver Zoo which brought her so much joy and where she spent so much of her time.