Gail Echtenkamp

Gail Lynn Echtenkamp was born February 9, 1954 to Max and Claire Haug. Growing up Gail was a part of one of the oldest families in Arvada, CO and enjoyed being a part of the Arvada community. Gail went through Arvada’s schools graduating from Arvada High School in 1972. She then went to the University of Northern Colorado to be a teacher and graduated in December of 1975.

She met her husband Richard Echtenkamp while at UNC and was married in December 1975. They moved to Arvada and began their life together in a little house on Grandview with a big vegetable garden and a new puppy named Corky. Their family began to grow when their first child, Heidi was born in the summer of 1976 and then their first son John in the winter of 1977 and their youngest son Ben came in fall of 1979. They built their dream house in 1979 and have been there ever since.

Gail worked as a neighborhood home day care provider then moved to being a director for Gerber Child Care Centers. Gail then worked for the Armadillo Restaurants as a book keeper and also at the Denver Post as a payroll specialist. Her favorite job though was being a mom and wife. She spent many hours all week long in her blue sprint driving to and from school functions and sporting events all around Colorado for all of her kids.

She loved to go bowling with her friends, have block parties with her neighbors, travel with Rich to visit their kids and to put their feet in the ocean in San Diego. She also loved to watch the hallmark station and Christmas movies and play word games on her phone with Rich.

She loved to bake and enjoyed teaching her kids the recipes she learned from her mom and grandma. Each year she would bring Christmas baked items to all the family events.

In the last few years her favorite thing was becoming a grandma to Asher. She got to spend the last three years with Asher and enjoyed reading to him, holding him, walking with him in the neighborhood and listening to him and grandpa play the piano.

She is survived by her husband Richard Echtenkamp, her children Heidi, John and Ben and daughter in-law Becky and her grandson Asher, her mother Claire Haug, her sister Alana Pedraza and her husband Gabe and children Kayla, Mariah and Tyler. She also has left behind many family members and friends who loved her very much and have fond memories of her.