April 25, 1921 - August 11, 2021
Born in Boulder on April 25, 1921, to Earle and Faith Devalon, our dear and precious mom passed in her sleep August 11, 2021 at the age of 100 years, three months, 17 days. She was a lovely, sweet, strong, capable, gifted, loving lady, filled with faith and faithful, truly the heart of our family.
She graduated from CU in 1943 with a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Chemistry and was hired by the USDA to cover the Western states as an inspector of food processing plants. She carried a microscope in her briefcase to make spontaneous checks for bacteria and “alien products” in vats of food. She married her beloved Ed Junghans in 1946 and traveled with him and their four children to different Air Force assignments after Ed was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. They settled in Broomfield in 1968 after he retired from the Air Force and she became active in her church and civic affairs. She and Ed enjoyed dancing–square dancing and ballroom–and she wore high heels while dancing well into her 80s! One of their delights was their partnership in the Flying X Ranch in Wyoming; not only did she dance into her 80s, she also rode horseback! Esther and Ed envisioned the ranch as a great place for family gatherings, and it has continued to be a much enjoyed gathering place for the families of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as extended family and friends.
Mom and friend, she was warm, affectionate, and loved unconditionally. Known lovingly to her grandchilden as Grem, she was an awesome grandmother and became grandmother to her grandchildren’s friends. Her homemade spaghetti and meatballs and Pennsylvania Dutch crumb cake were legendary to her family. She loved to have people over to her home for happy hour and dinner and thought nothing of hosting 100 people for brunch at church. She was a godly woman and an amazing cook, seamstress, and cake decorator. She also enjoyed a good time–having fun with the Red Hat Society and DAR Arapaho Chapter ladies, playing cards on Friday afternoons with friends, and having steak cookouts up Boulder Canyon. Always hospitable, it was easier for her to give than receive and her common refrain was “What can I do to help?”
Truly a Proverbs 31 woman, we will miss her greatly and feel privileged and blessed to be her family! She is survived by her three children (Toodie Corwin (Gerry), Chip Junghans (June), and Bets Hannah (Jim)), six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren–along with close-knit nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
A short graveside service will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, meeting at Staging Area C no later than 2:00 p.m. on August 31. She will be buried with her “ever-lovin” Ed and their young son.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mission Aviation Fellowship, Nampa, ID 83653 (or online at www.maf.org), noting “In memory of Esther Junghans” in either instance.
Psalms 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
