Obituary
Wayne Mathisen (George Wayne Mathisen) was born June 19, 1967, at Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder, Colorado to George and Linda (Walden) Mathisen. He passed away at Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder, Colorado on July 30, 2022, at the age of 55 due to complications from a long battle with cancer.
Wayne grew up in Brighton, CO and graduated from Brighton High School in 1986. He was an athlete and played sports all through school, including one semester playing HS football in San Diego, CA. He went on to play semi-pro football in Colorado for several years.
After he graduated, Wayne worked for Del Hensel working with his buffalo herd. He worked the corrals at National Western Stock Show as a Buffalero. Later he went to work for Bob Dineen at Rocky Mountain Meats and delivered buffalo meat to area stores. Wayne’s love of farming also landed him working for his best friend, Kevin Willard at W-Spur Hay Co. Farming always kept him around the people and things that he loved the most.
During those years, Wayne started working in the gas and oil industry. Over the span of 35 years, he worked for KN Energy and, through industry mergers and changes, ended up at Noble Energy for several years. He made many great and life-long friends while he was in the industry. Eventually, Wayne started his own company which was a huge blessing to him.
Through his association with the National Western Stock Show and friends, Wayne became a Livestock Superintendent and worked the NWSS every January for 23 years. He became a member of the NWSS Club in 2003, which he enjoyed very much, especially after he retired from the Livestock side.
Wayne loved the water and was an amazing swimmer. He had a boat and was a member of the Fort Lupton Boat Club for many years. He loved going to the lake every summer.
Wayne was an avid hunter and loved to go elk hunting in the Colorado mountains and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. He loved to shoot sporting clays and shot competitively for many years.
In December 1997, Wayne met the love of his life, DeEtta Holthus. He followed her around for a few months and reconnected in February 1998 on her birthday at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, SD. Once they started dating, they were inseparable and on September 4, 1999, they were married in Rapid City.
Wayne and DeEtta spent many summer weekends in Centennial WY with their horses and, in the winter, they snowmobiled the Snowy Range. They also went every July to Cheyenne Frontier Days with many of their friends. Wyoming has always been a special place for them.
Wayne and DeEtta spent the last 20 years living in Keenesburg, CO, with their horses, a few cats and their dogs, Bo and Luke.
Wayne is survived by his wife, DeEtta of 23 years; his father, George; his step-mother, Jill; his brother, Bart (Pam); his step-brother Steve Durgan; his step-sister, Carmen (Chuck) Heister; his brother-in-law, Tex Holthus; his sister-in-law, Crystal (Dusty) Needham; several nieces and nephews; three aunts; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Walden; his father-in-law, Jake Holthus; and his mother-in-law, Bernice Holthus.
Wayne had so many friends in his life, and he loved each and every one of them. He had a big heart and gave big hugs. He was truly blessed.
The Prayer Service will be Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 7 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Hamill, SD. The funeral will be Friday, August 12, 2022, at 2 PM at the Hamill Hall in Hamill, SD. Burial will follow at the Hamill Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 20, 2022, at 11 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Hudson, CO. And a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday August 20, 2022, at 2 PM at the SE Weld County Fair Grounds, Keenesburg, CO.
Wayne grew up in Brighton, CO and graduated from Brighton High School in 1986. He was an athlete and played sports all through school, including one semester playing HS football in San Diego, CA. He went on to play semi-pro football in Colorado for several years.
After he graduated, Wayne worked for Del Hensel working with his buffalo herd. He worked the corrals at National Western Stock Show as a Buffalero. Later he went to work for Bob Dineen at Rocky Mountain Meats and delivered buffalo meat to area stores. Wayne’s love of farming also landed him working for his best friend, Kevin Willard at W-Spur Hay Co. Farming always kept him around the people and things that he loved the most.
During those years, Wayne started working in the gas and oil industry. Over the span of 35 years, he worked for KN Energy and, through industry mergers and changes, ended up at Noble Energy for several years. He made many great and life-long friends while he was in the industry. Eventually, Wayne started his own company which was a huge blessing to him.
Through his association with the National Western Stock Show and friends, Wayne became a Livestock Superintendent and worked the NWSS every January for 23 years. He became a member of the NWSS Club in 2003, which he enjoyed very much, especially after he retired from the Livestock side.
Wayne loved the water and was an amazing swimmer. He had a boat and was a member of the Fort Lupton Boat Club for many years. He loved going to the lake every summer.
Wayne was an avid hunter and loved to go elk hunting in the Colorado mountains and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. He loved to shoot sporting clays and shot competitively for many years.
In December 1997, Wayne met the love of his life, DeEtta Holthus. He followed her around for a few months and reconnected in February 1998 on her birthday at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, SD. Once they started dating, they were inseparable and on September 4, 1999, they were married in Rapid City.
Wayne and DeEtta spent many summer weekends in Centennial WY with their horses and, in the winter, they snowmobiled the Snowy Range. They also went every July to Cheyenne Frontier Days with many of their friends. Wyoming has always been a special place for them.
Wayne and DeEtta spent the last 20 years living in Keenesburg, CO, with their horses, a few cats and their dogs, Bo and Luke.
Wayne is survived by his wife, DeEtta of 23 years; his father, George; his step-mother, Jill; his brother, Bart (Pam); his step-brother Steve Durgan; his step-sister, Carmen (Chuck) Heister; his brother-in-law, Tex Holthus; his sister-in-law, Crystal (Dusty) Needham; several nieces and nephews; three aunts; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Walden; his father-in-law, Jake Holthus; and his mother-in-law, Bernice Holthus.
Wayne had so many friends in his life, and he loved each and every one of them. He had a big heart and gave big hugs. He was truly blessed.
The Prayer Service will be Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 7 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Hamill, SD. The funeral will be Friday, August 12, 2022, at 2 PM at the Hamill Hall in Hamill, SD. Burial will follow at the Hamill Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 20, 2022, at 11 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Hudson, CO. And a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday August 20, 2022, at 2 PM at the SE Weld County Fair Grounds, Keenesburg, CO.
