Rodney Van Velson

RODNEY CHARLES VAN VELSON

August 13, 1940 - April 17, 2025

Rodney Charles Van Velson, 84, of Windsor, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025. He was born on August 13, 1940, in Brule, Nebraska, the first born of Bud and Osie Van Velson.

Rod grew up on the family farm in Nebraska with his three younger brothers. He often fondly recalled his rural upbringing where he learned the value of hard work and family, including humorous stories about living without indoor plumbing until he was 11 years old.

After attending McCook Junior College, Rod pursued higher education at Colorado State University. During one summer, he worked in Alaska, which sparked his lifelong passion for fisheries management. In September 1963, he married Jane Sloan and moved to Arkansas where he began his career as a biologist at a fish hatchery. Rod later returned to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he completed his Master's degree program.

They welcomed their first daughter, Mona, in 1966 after moving to Alliance, Nebraska, where Rod worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Their second daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1969. During this time, Rod enjoyed bowling, building friendships with colleagues and neighbors, and designed and built a home.

In 1978, the family relocated to Colorado when Rod joined the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Rod was an avid basketball enthusiast and regularly participated in noontime basketball games at CSU with colleagues and staff. He held season tickets for the CSU men’s basketball team for many years.

In 1990, Rod married Doris Van Hofwegen, with whom he shared the remainder of his life. They married in Hawaii and enjoyed their lives together which included their beloved dogs, Tappy and Moses. The couple moved to Windsor in 2007.

During his 25 years as a researcher for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Rod’s work and contributions towards wild trout populations and trout habitat development is impressive. He studied the unique self-sustaining wild rainbow trout in Emerald Lake and created a method to collect and transfer this rare species. Rod enjoyed reminiscing about packing out coolers of trout eggs from this remote lake, located 10 miles into the Weminuche Wilderness Area. Rod introduced Emerald Lake trout into several Colorado lakes over the years to build new self-sustaining trout populations. He designed and oversaw the construction of trout spawning channels at Joe Wright Reservoir, Vaughn Lake and others around Colorado. He was a pioneer in river restoration techniques and managed several projects that improved fish habitat. One of Rod’s most significant and meaningful projects was his collaboration with the Colorado Department of Corrections that provided valuable job training for inmates who worked with Rod to enhance and restore the Upper South Platte River. Rod was recognized for “his dedication to vocational heavy equipment training and his passion for the building of rivers and rebuilding lives.”

After retiring in 2005, Rod and Doris enjoyed their home, church community, scenic drives to Estes Park, and spending time with family. They are members of Elm Haven Seventh Day Adventist Church in Windsor and lived their lives committed to God.

Rod will be remembered for his genuine kindness, engaging sense of humor and down-to-earth sensibilities. He loved to reminisce about "the good life" growing up on the farm in Nebraska and was always quick to share nuggets of wisdom.

Rod is survived by his wife, Doris; daughters Mona (husband Karl) and Jennifer; step-children Amy (husband Craig), Beth, Jennifer (husband Mark), and Scott (wife Kirsten); brothers Rich (wife Joanne) and their daughter Kim (husband Shawn), John (wife BJ) and their children Josie (husband Andy) and Jeff; He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Osie, and his brother Tom, who passed away in 2014.

Grandchildren include: Aidan, Owen, Dalton, Jeremiah, Zachary, Morgan, Kylie, Andrew, and Tyler (deceased, Tara and Peyton).

A private family service will be held.