Donald Ludwig

Donald Leroy Ludwig of Windsor, Colorado passed away on December 18, 2024. He was 85 years old. Donald was born on October 1, 1939 to William Leroy Ludwig and Mabel Alta Ludwig (nee Crabb) in Pueblo, Colorado. The family moved around during Don's early years, and settled in Genoa, CO for several years before moving to Denver. He graduated from Alameda High School in June, 1957. Don attended Colorado State University for a year and a half before joining the Army in May, 1961.

Don served in the army as a radio operator, first attending signal school at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and then being stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Don would often tell the story of the time he spoke to the pilot of Air Force One while it was flying across the Pacific. He returned to civilian life in May 1964 and moved back to Denver.

Before the army, Don spent some time working off and on for Myrtle Ellis in Denver. The Ellis family owned a few A&W drive ins. In November, 1963 while on leave from the army, Don was at Myrtle's apartment and met one of Myrtle's granddaughters, Nancy Wennblom. The two reconnected/rubbed elbows a few times over the years, eventually started dating, and were married in September, 1966 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Union County, South Dakota.

At the time of the wedding, Don was working on his family's dairy farm in Wisconsin, and after the wedding, Nancy joined him there, and together they started a family. Elizabeth Ludwig was born in June, 1968. Three and a half years later, Joseph Ludwig was born in October, 1971.

In 1973, the next step in Don's journey took the family briefly to rural Salem, South Dakota, and then to Platteville, Colorado. Then they spent just under two years in Greeley, Colorado where Peter Ludwig was born in October, 1975. Don exchanged his own labor for a big break on the rent at the Greeley house, so Don and Nancy worked to fix up the house and only paid $75/month in rent.

In March of 1977, Don landed a job as Assistant Manager at Windsor West Hardware in Windsor, Colorado. That brought the family to Windsor, where Don and Nancy bought the house they have lived in ever since. All three kids graduated from Windsor High School.

Don was actively involved in Boy Scouts for much of his life. Don was in Troop 131 in the Denver area as a youth, but started as an adult leader with Troop 57 in Windsor. He was an assistant scoutmaster while Joe and Peter were scouts, was involved with other local Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout troops as commissioner, and helped with the local district of the Boy Scouts. Overall, he spent 25 years as an adult leader of the Boy Scouts.

Don was also actively involved in the Windsor Optimist Club. He worked on many Optimist projects over the years such as the Oratorical Contest, Easter Egg Hunt, Bike Rodeo.

Don and Nancy have been members of Bethel Lutheran Church since 1977. Don served on the church board when the "new" parish hall was built in 1980, and has been active in the church the whole time the family has lived in Windsor.

Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy Ludwig, as well as his daughter Beth and her husband Roger Doll, his son Joe and his wife Nissa Ludwig, and his son Peter and his wife Amy Ludwig. He was the oldest of six kids, and is survived by his late brother's wife Denise, late brother's wife Carol, his late brother's wife Jan, his sister Charlotte and husband Dan Bartels, and his younger brother Kenny and wife Cindy Ludwig. He is survived by three grandchildren, Nicole, Isaac, and Aria. On Nancy's side he is survived by Nancy's late brother's wife Pat, and her younger brother Swen and his wife Dianna. He is also survived by countless nieces, nephews, cousins and other family. Don was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mabel, his younger brothers, Marvin, Dan, and Jerry, and Nancy's younger brother Jim. 

The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, CNAs, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists from hospitals, rehab facilities, and home health programs that have cared for Don over the past year, and in particular the Visiting Angels, who helped Don to have more time at home.

Services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Windsor on December 28 at 11am, with a reception at the church to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Bethel Lutheran Church or the Windsor Optimist Club.