Eileen Agnes Gass

Eileen Agnes Gass (Bee Skemp) passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024, at her home in Castle Rock, Colorado, at the age of 92. She was born on January 1, 1932, on the hospital steps (literally) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Thomas H. and Beulah (Kelley) Skemp. Mom always knew how to make an entrance.

Eileen was affectionately known by her loved ones as “Bee”. Her older sister Betty, so happy to have a sister after three little brothers in a row, would look at her baby sister lovingly and say, “how could she BEE so tweet?” The nickname stuck with her throughout her life. 

A small town girl from LaCrosse, Wisconsin met the love of her life, Don Gass, a St. Louis boy and star baseball pitcher, on a blind date in college, and their love story began. After graduating with an education degree from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, and Don graduating from St. Mary’s College, also in Winona, the two married on June 26, 1954, and welcomed their first child, David, on their first anniversary. Laurie, Michael, and Cathy followed, and then, after an eight-year gap, twins Julie and Carol came along, with great joy and surprise, thus cementing Eileen’s role as wife and mother, a role that she dedicated herself to with love and commitment. 

Looking back, we can say that Mom had no clue what she signed up for when she married Dad – but true love can be blind that way. Whether canoeing in the Ozarks, camping on the Allagash River in northern Maine, or skiing in New Hampshire, Michigan and Colorado (not to mention making 100 gallons of tomato sauce using 50 bushels of tomatoes he brought home, or bottling 50 bottles of wine using grapes he had flown in from the Napa Valley), she was up for it all - kind of. Dad had a lot of ideas, projects, and hobbies, and Mom usually went along like the good sport that she was. 

Their journey took them from El Paso, TX, to New Rochelle, NY, to St. Louis, to Boston and to West Bloomfield, Michigan. They spent the last 26 years in Castle Pines, Colorado, at the home they built, with spectacular views of Pike’s Peak and the Rocky Mountains, views that they cherished every single day. Countless hummingbirds enhanced the panorama. Mom enjoyed every place that she lived, and made each and every house feel like home. And, as the saying goes, “home is where your mom is.” She often said that she was glad that she got the chance to live in so many different places because it made her life interesting. Of course, living with Dad was interesting in and of itself!

Mom loved her game of bridge, which she first learned in college and honed throughout her life. She was good at it. Known as Eileen to her bridge friends, she had a very special place in her heart for these wonderful ladies, and she talked about them often. She looked so forward to bridge every week.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was a woman of great kindness, thoughtfulness, and love. She never forgot a birthday, which was a feat in and of itself with her large family, and she never failed to write a thank you note. She held a deep and abiding faith in God and a dedication to her family, cherishing the many parties and get-togethers and time spent with children and grandchildren. She always made everyone feel welcome and at home when they came to visit.

Eileen (Bee) is now reunited with her beloved husband, Don, who preceded her in death in 2017, after sharing 63 wonderful and adventurous years together. Her memory will always be treasured by her family. She leaves behind six children, including David (Ann) Gass, Lauren (Robbin) Larson, Michael (Kate) Gass, Cathleen (Jack) Witte, Carol (PJ) Desrosiers, and Julie (Matt) Morrow, nineteen grandchildren, including Joseph (Sarah) Gass, Carolyn (Brady) Hunt, Valerie (Pat) Kelly, Stephen Gass, Tom (Kajal) Larson, Don (Lindy) Larson, Mary (Dan) Torgerson, Matthew (Kelley) Gass, Sam (Amelia) Gass, Ben Gass, Luke Gass, Charlie Witte, Kelly (Max) Haberkorn, AJ Witte, Johnny Desrosiers, Katie Desrosiers, Steffi Desrosiers, Nikki Morrow, and Brooke Morrow, and fourteen great grandchildren. We held many wonderful family gatherings at Don and Bee’s home in Castle Rock, and we are so very happy that she is now at peace. Her love and kindness will continue to inspire all of those who were fortunate enough to have spent time with her. Mom/Grandma/GG, we will love you forever! 

We would like to thank Brighton Hospice for their wonderful care of our Mom. We will always appreciate their genuine compassion and concern for her comfort during her final days. We would also like to thank Mom’s wonderful neighbors, who looked after her in the last seven years, and particularly Bruce and Janyce Wald, who were so thoughtful and kind.

Please join the family in celebrating Eileen’s life on July 12, 2024, at St. Thomas More, 8035 S Quebec St, Centennial, Colorado. Recitation of the Rosary at 10:15 am, followed by the Mass of Christian burial at 11:00am. Reception to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made in Eileen’s name to:

St. Thomas More Catholic Parish

8035 S Quebec St.

Englewood, CO 80112