Thomas Imse, Jr

Thomas Paul Imse, Jr.
April 3, 1946- May 12, 2012
Paul Imse died surrounded by family at University Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Paul Imse, and by his wife Jean Huang Imse. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Sharon Friedman, stepson Alex Witkowski, stepdaughter Leslie Zeitler, mother Fern-Aileen Imse and brothers Jim, Peter, John, Andrew and Mark Imse, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
Paul was the oldest of six brothers and was raised in various parts of the country, as his Dad Thomas Paul Imse, was a college sociology professor. Paul graduated from Holy Cross College in 1968 and Georgetown Law JD in 1971 and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.
In his legal work, Paul worked with small businesses and not-for-profits. He served on the Appropriations Committee staff of the US House of Representatives early in his career. As a partner in a law firm, he stood for his clients and would always lend assistance to those who were without the finances to afford counsel. He was respected for his legal and practical acumen by those who he worked with and by his wide-ranging collection of friends. Paul was involved in the founding, development and construction of the national memorial to Francis Scott Key in Washington, DC and the rehabilitation of a National Register property in historic Alexandria, VA. He proudly acknowledged the recognition given him when the memorial was completed. He served as Chair of a Fairfax County, VA commission tasked with some of the regulatory responsibility over development which could impact the Chesapeake Bay. In Virginia, he also volunteered time with the Explorer Scouts, the Lake Barcroft Association, St. Anthony's Church of Falls Church, and the God Talk Foundation.
After moving to Colorado in 2005, he became active in Golden, with the Golden Concert Choir, as a commissioner of the Golden Urban Renewal Authority, and on the Planning Commission. He was also active in the Jeffco Dems.Paul served as foster parent to several students from the Luis Munoz Rivera Elementary School in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, while they were guests of the National Education Association. The students remember him to this day as a fun-loving and compassionate man.
Paul was an avid Washington Redskin football fan. He once won season tickets in a contest he entered and shared his largess with his friends. He was in nirvana when the 'skins repeatedly went to the super bowl in the '80s. His friends witnessed his competitive nature and his ability to remember details of the world, world events, and history, which many others could and would never remember. One of his friends kidded him often as the man who remembered 89 percent of the world's trivia. Besides, he liked to help his friends fix things. From plumbing, to electrical hook-ups, to laying concrete, stepping stones, and walk-ways, fixing cars and maintaining them, he was always there to help or to be the guy who knew enough to take the lead so that the job or problem was done.
Paul was a family man. He loved children and cared for those who were from his marital relationships as if they were his own. He was of the "old school," where he demonstrated his feelings through his actions even putting his feelings aside, as he gave himself to the children in his supervision. Many of the children with whom he came in contact outside these relationships still remember him fondly as"uncle Paul." Paul served as foster parent to several students from the Luis Munoz Rivera Elementary School in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, while they were guests of the National Education Association. The students remember him to this day as a fun-loving, and compassionate man.
Paul was always a great cook. He and Sharon enjoyed opening their home to family and friends. They loved good food and drink, conversation and laughter. We can all say in unison, friends and family alike, thank you, Paul, for the meals you made, most memorably, pot roast and Yorkshire pudding." He loved photography, current events, writing and letters to the editor of various newspapers. Even during the last three years, since his attack of MRSA and amputations, he continued his activities including camping and the long-planned camping trip to Alaska.
Paul's years with Sharon were a blessing and the basis for his happiness and feeling fulfilled. He and Sharon shared the same love for the outdoors, music, and books. Paul loved to talk about what he knew and was in his own when he did. They both loved singing with church choirs and being with each other when they did sing together. Paul was a loving husband, full of life and fun, and always ready to support and delight Sharon in a myriad of ways, both practical and emotional. The day before he went in the hospital for the last time, he could be found with both prostheses on a ladder in her closet trying to fix the light.
Paul had immense courage, strength and vitality in dealing with his health problems over the years. The world will be a milder, less colorful, and perhaps smaller place without him.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Paul Imse, and by his wife Jean Huang Imse. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Sharon Friedman, stepson Alex Witkowski, stepdaughter Leslie Zeitler, mother Fern-Aileen Imse and brothers Jim, Peter, John, Mark and Andrew Imse.
Here is a farewell Paul wrote to his Dad, and so we say them now to Paul:
" So long, Paul. Your time of sickness, trial and suffering are over, and I have no doubt you're with God now. We will remember so many good times and smile through our tears. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to seeing you again one day when we follow your path.
Godspeed and God Bless.
Your loving family and friends.
KS
All of us ;->"
A Celebration of Paul's Life will be held at 11 AM June 9th at The Church of the Ascension, Denver, with a reception to follow.
Church of the Ascension
600 Gilpin Street
Denver, Colorado 80218
Memorial donations can be made to the Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp of the Amputee Coalition. Here's the link: https://secure3.convio.net/acoa/site/Donation