Gwendolyn Giffin

Gwendolyn Jones Giffin of De Beque and Grand Junction, Colorado, died January 25, 2022 after suffering a stroke at age eighty.

Born in New Jersey on June 15, 1941 to John Robert Jones and Helen Elizabeth Thelen, Gwen was a graduate of Milwaukee Whitefish Bay High School class of 1959 and proudly earned a Masters in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1968.  Prior to starting a family, Gwen worked at Fort Logan Mental Health Institute in Denver.

After relocating to Grand Junction in 1987 from Polson, Montana, Gwen worked to serve her community in many ways: the Veterans Administration Hospital, Hilltop Rehabilitation Center, and the Colorado Discover Ability assisted ski program to mention only a few. While attending nearly every baseball game, band concert, and evening meal for her three sons, she grew a successful private practice which became her primary focus over the last two decades. Her family cannot begin to calculate the number of people she interacted with in her long career and send our condolences to you, as well.  She celebrated her retirement on her eightieth birthday, remarking with pride that it, “never once felt like work.”  Truly one of the lucky few who loved what they did, and did it as long they wanted.

An avid gardener, skier, cyclist, hiker, and multi-marathon runner, Gwen enjoyed all the sunshine and powder days Colorado had to offer. Her zeal for life will be remembered by her grateful sons, two grandchildren, their extended families, and the countless many that she positively impacted with her counsel, wisdom, generosity, and spirited sense of humor.

Should you wish to make a donation in her honor, the Roice-Hurst Humane Society of Grand Junction would be an appropriate choice.  She was not only fond of helping the humans, she was always one to take in a hard-luck dog, too.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 19th from 1pm to 4pm at Unity Church, 3205 N.12th Street, Grand Junction.  All are welcome.

“Make a good day.”