May 23, 1939 – June 9, 2024
Frank James Ward passed away Sunday, June 9th. He was born in Durango, Colorado on 5/23/1939 to Don and Ellie Ward. Following school at East High in Denver, Colorado, Frank spent 4 years in the US Navy. Following his service, he enrolled at Colorado State University where he met the love of his life, Joan. They were soon married and would have celebrated their 63rd anniversary this coming July. Frank spent 30 years in the trucking industry working with his father and brothers at Don Ward and Company.
Frank had many interests and excelled at them all. Whether it was sailing the Aegean and Caribbean Seas, Puget Sound, or his beloved Lake Dillon, or golfing in Ireland, skiing, cycling Europe, scuba diving, and even skydiving (63 jumps), Frank did everything with passion.
He loved the arts and enjoyed many musical theater productions, symphonies, philharmonic, chamber music, and operas. Frank was an active volunteer at Emergency Incident Support (EIS). He was active at Cherry Hills Community Church and looked forward to attending every Sunday, as well as being active in many of their volunteer activities. Frank looked forward to his volunteer time (16 years) with Samaritan’s Purse in their processing center.
Above all, Frank loved life and he loved his family. He took great pride in watching and hearing about his children’s great accomplishments. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Kari; his son, Donny (Cassie); 6 grandchildren: Tyler, Connor (Lynsey), Megan, Sarah Grace Buehner (Daniel), Hannah (Creedance), and Samuel; 3 great grandchildren: Wesley, Kiplynn, and Rowan; stepsister, Jamie Goodman; cousins, nieces and nephew.
In lieu of flowers: please donate to Samaritan’s Purse, Young Life Monument, Compassion International, or a charity of your choice.
There will be a Memorial Service Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Cherry Hills Community Church, The Dixon Chapel, 3900 Grace Boulevard, Littleton, Colorado 80126 at 10:00am.
Barbara (Ward) and Larry Intermill
17 Jun 2024Frank was a fighter to the end and a testament to a life well-lived, He was always the older cousin I looked up to and I know he has a special place with God in heaven. Sending our deepest sympathy to Joan and family.
Stewart Shining
18 Jun 2024Dear Joan, Keri, and Donny and Cassie,
The entire Shining family is sending you our love and prayers. We’ll always remember Frank fondly. I can close my eyes and remember exactly what it was like in the back seat of that Oldsmobile as he drove us all up to Terry Peak to ski- such great memories!
Love,
Stewart & Lily, Barbara, Streeter, Chris and Jennifer Shining
Jim Dennison
18 Jun 2024Loved being with Frank on any golf course. He was always pleasant and complimentary. Miss you!
Randy Kliner
18 Jun 2024Frank was a easy going guy with a good sense of humor, and playing golf with him was thoroughly enjoyable. He was very good and if asked, would share his golf talents with me, especially chipping. And yes, Frank did enjoy sitting around the table and listening and telling stories and not just about golf. He was a gentleman and I was very fortunate to have known him. Rest in peace my friend.
John Torrez
25 Jun 2024Frank was a member in good standing with the Argonaut club and participated in many of its recent activities such as golf, poker, and monthly luncheons.
Frank had a pretty good game of golf and was typically in the top of the leader board in his flight when playing with our 18 hole league at the Patty Jewett course. He had what most of us would call a “boring golf game” (always in the fairway and rarely missed an approach or a putt). He often met in the clubhouse with the guys after a round and talked about the things guys talk about. He could hold his liquor better than most, except for recently when his health got the better of him. Frank didn’t do as well with the XGolf simulators this past winter. He was constantly in the rough and the trees, and miss his putts (but no one could figure out how to putt because it was not like a real putting surface) but he’d show up and play even while hooked up to his oxygen.
As with golf, Frank was a good poker player too. The first time he ever played in our Texas Holdem tournament he took all our money with a first place finish. He “knew when to hold em, knew when to fold em, knew when to walk away, knew when to run!” as the song goes.
Regardless of the sport he played or the results, the one thing Frank loved more than the game itself, or the competition, was getting out with the guys. He enjoyed the fellowship. Whether it was at the PJ clubhouse or the Hatch Cover after a CCC round, he’d be there if he could just to hang out with the guys to soak up a little more commaraderie.
It was hard hearing that his cancer had returned as his health degraded and was sentenced to the embarrassment of hospice care, we knew he likely would soon be joining so many other past Argonaut members who have recently gone down this similar path in recent years.
Frank Ward, you left a legacy and will be remembered and honored for your dedication to the club and for being an extraordinary gentleman. The Argonaut club paid homage to you this past June luncheon. Please say hi to the other Argonauts for us and let them know we miss you all.