Arlene Ellen Visscher
December 29, 1922 – September 5, 2016
Arlene was born Arlene Ellen Carr in Kalamazoo, Michigan on December 29, 1922. She passed away peacefully at home in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 5, 2016.
As a girl, Arlene helped her father demonstrate jiu-jitsu for the women’s self-defense classes he taught. She also kept stats at the baseball games he coached. After high school, Arlene attended business school for a year and then went to work for Metropolitan Life. Arlene later married her high school sweetheart, Robert Visscher, after he returned home from the war in Europe in 1945. They started a celery growing operation called Visscher Farms. During this time, Arlene bore three children named Michael, Rebecca, and Thomas.
After moving from Michigan to Colorado in 1963, Arlene worked in the medical field as a secretary. She retired from work in 1988 after working several years in the radiology department at Doctors’ Hospital in Colorado Springs.
Arlene had many interests and talents. She was a terrific cook, and was gifted at sewing, crotchet, needlepoint and knitting. She also loved Elvis and the Denver Broncos!
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Mildred Carr, her son Michael, and husband Robert. She is survived by her daughter Rebecca, son Thomas, four grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 12, 2016 at East United Methodist Church, 1505 East Monument Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909. Entombment will be in the Garden of Angels Mausoleum at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Memorial contributions may be made to East United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care. Donations to be made to: Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 2550 Tenderfoot Hill Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906.