The Life of Riley: October 2008

Riley's last great grandparent (my mom's dad) passed away 2 weeks ago. I previously posted about him here. He was an amazing man and did a lot for Colorado. He was an artist and a politician, among many other things. You can read the obituraries that were written about him here and here.

Perhaps he knew it was his time. He approved his funeral video montage and edited his own obituary just days before.

Here is the obituary he edited and approved:

Tool, Jean Kevin
Of Denver, passed away September 29, 2008. He was born January 1, 1919 in Murdock, Nebraska to Harold Warren and Edna Mina (Goehry) Tool. Jean was an accomplished artist at an early age. As a teenager, at the urging of his father and the postmaster,he drew pen and ink portraits of notable personalities (Shirley Temple, Albert Einstein, Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart) and built a remarkable autograph collection of more than 80 drawings. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1941 with a degree in fine arts. While in college he met the love of his life, Carole Langley Petersen. They were married August 30, 1942 at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas, while he was in flight school in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now U.S.A.F.). He was a WWII C-47 pilot and flew 361 combat missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with an oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He achieved the rank of major. After the war he settled in Denver with his wife and toddler son, Steve. Twin daughters Sally and Patricia were born four years later. Jean enjoyed a long career as an advertising executive, first with Wayne Welch Advertising, then as owner of his agency, Tool & Armstrong Advertising. A later merger with Fyre-Sills Advertising made him a principal in what was then Denver's largest ad agency. He was involved in the Colorado Republican party for over 50 years and rose through party ranks to be elected state chairman. He worked endless hours building a strong Republican base in this State. With his artistic and writing talents, he created many marketing tools used by the party to build a strong framework, from precinct and county levels through the state level. He was instrumental in convincing John Love to run for governor in 1962 and helped lead his landslide election. He also worked in national politics as a consultant to Winthrop Rockefeller (Gov. of Arkansas), Richard Nixon, U.S. Senators Gordon Allott and Pete Dominick, and U.S. Rep. Don Brotzman, to name a few. Tool served as a Commissioner for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and was the first commissioner to serve three four-year terms; he also served as chairman. During his service, he helped create many Division legacies: blue-ribbon fishing waters, landowner recognition program, fishing slot limits, and a healthy moose population. In 2001, the Division honored his work by creating the Jean K. Tool State Wildlife Area along the Platte River near Ft. Morgan (where he used to duck hunt with his father and brother). He was a contributing member of the International Order of Rocky Mountain Goats, a group dedicated to wildlife conservation and natural resource management. Here, among other things, he designed their logo, conceptualized their annual award-winning St. Patrick's Day parade floats, and drew great wildlife images and whimsical caricatures. His work for the Order and the Rocky Mountain Goats Foundation elevated these two organizations to world-class recognition status. He helped inspire and spearhead the GOCO program, which earmarks State Lottery money for outdoor and recreational projects. He was active in aviation as a Board Director of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society. He was an engaged member of the Denver Press Club for over 55 years and served on the Board of Directors. In 2000, he was named to The Press Club Hall of Fame. Many of his caricatures of local media personalities enliven the Club's dining room. Jean battled tongue cancer for three years. Through the highs and lows of this fight, he always maintained his wonderful wit, his sharp mind, and his ability to value family and his many friends. He was drawing caricatures right to the end. Jean would like to be remembered for his solid contributions to the great state of Colorado and its wildlife, for his capable and committed military service to his country, and for his willingness to step in and help, no matter what the venue. Jean is survived by his loving children, Stephen (Karen) Tool, Ft. Collins; Sally (Howard) Shawcross, Centennial; Patricia (Rayno) Seaser, Ft. Collins; eight grandchildren: Kevin Tool, Jennifer Holladay, Nicholas Odell, Emily Kinsella, Allison Haltom, Andrew Seaser, Abigail Seaser, Kyle Seaser; two step-grandchildren: Angela Wright, and Tony Shawcross; great-grandchildren Christiana, Jillian, and Jacob Holladay, Ryan and Karalyn Tool, Hayden and Blake Seaser, Riley Kinsella; step-great-grandchildren, Tyler Wright, and Jonah and Elsa Cavender; brothers H. Warren Tool (Charlotte, N.C.), Marc R.Tool (Sacramento, CA) and sister, Patricia McHugh (Sacramento, CA). Jean also leaves dear friends Patricia Karges, Elaine Jackson, Ed and Jeannie Snider, and Sherry Smiley. He was predeceased by wife, Carole, and granddaughter, Kirsten Lee Tool. Services will be held Friday, October 3, 2008, 4:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Rd., Centennial, CO. Private Interment, Ft. Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made, with gratitude, to the Kirsten L. Tool Memorial Scholarship fund in care of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, 4745 Wheaton Dr., Ft. Collins, CO 80525.