Iris Loeser Draper passed from this world on August 22, 2021. She was born in Coburg, Bavaria Germany the youngest of three girls born to Erwin and Else Loeser (Grosser).
She was preceded in death by her parents, Erwin and Else Loeser; sisters, Christl (Carl) Hansen, Ursula (Harlan) Choate; and their husbands, Claude Marksheffel Adams, and Dr. Paul H. Draper.
She is survived by her sons, Kenneth Marksheffel (Lauren) Adams and Gordon Loeser (Susan) Adams; brother, Peter (Heidrun) Bach; grandsons, Shelton Loeser (Jane) Adams, Dr. Cooper Jay (Chloe) Adams; and two great grandchildren, Quinn, and Luke Adams.
Iris loved sports; her favorite was skiing. When Ski Broadmoor opened in 1959, she became one of the first ski instructors and later Ski School Director where she became the “Great Dame” of Colorado Springs skiers for 30 years. Her unique programs for youth skiing, the “Hat Program and Ski Bees”, taught more than 10,000 youngsters the joys of skiing. Her Night Ski School was wildly popular with adults, teaching basics of the sport to thousands of Springs residents.
Highlights of her skiing career include, appearing in a Warren Miller Film, participating in President Nixon’s Inauguration Parade, hosting a local TV Ski Program “Ask Iris”, training a blind girl to ski, and participating in the Special Olympics, as well as multiple nominations to the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame.
She loved animals, gardening, knitting, swimming, the beach, golf, and much more. Iris said, “She has loved and lived a full life”, and now it’s time to see her “Good Lord”. She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.
A Celebration of Iris’ life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021, at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd.