Heather Elizabeth Gates Werner, age 35, of Colorado Springs, passed from this physical life on May 29, 2014.
Heather was born in Colorado Springs on May 31, 1978 to Ralph and Robin Gates. The summer of 1978 her family moved to the Chicago area where she graduated from Downers Grove South High School and received a degree in Elementary Education from Wheaton College.
Heather returned to Colorado Springs in 2000 where she taught 4th grade at Stetson Hills Elementary. On June 12, 2004, she married Kevin Werner. After her 7th year of teaching, she resigned in order to create time and space to volunteer in the community. She volunteered with Northern Churches Care until the birth of their first daughter in 2008. Since then she has invested her life in loving her husband, raising her daughters, building relationships with friends, entertaining in their home, enjoying the outdoors with her family, and playing guitar with the worship team at International Anglican Church. Heather became a Christ follower at a young age and grew in her faith throughout the rest of her life.
Heather is survived by her husband, Kevin Werner, and their two daughters, Anikah and Kaia, her parents, Ralph and Robin Gates, and her siblings, Laura Hollis, Corrie Dunkerton, and Mark Gates.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs on Friday, June 6 at 10:00 am.
For the past few years, Heather and Kevin have become passionate about and committed to Run for Rwanda, which is affiliated with their church, International Anglican Church, and raises funds to support a health clinic and secondary education for youth in Kibali, Rwanda. This race and the people of Rwanda were in the forefront of Heather’s mind and conversations during the final weeks of her life. Because of Heather’s heart for this race, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to Run for Rwanda.
Please send checks with “Heather Werner Memorial” in the memo line to:
Run for Rwanda
1804 Francis Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80909.
Please make checks payable to “Run for Rwanda.”