My father's place below with Kemmer waiting for slow-mo me.
My first boss at the University of Northern Colorado passed away today, 21 April 2013 in Colorado. She gave me so many opportunities during my work life and was the organizer in the world.
Phyllis Drennan, 86, of Greeley passed away April 21, 2013 at Hospice of Northern Colorado. She was born August 14, 1926 in Mason City, IA to Elmer and Melissa (Seidel) Wichman.
Phyllis and her husband Robert “Bob” made Colorado their home base with intermittent moves to Wyoming, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri for employment and educational opportunities. She pursued educational goals for 29 years; earning a PhD, University of Iowa, 1974; a MSN, University of Colorado, 1961; a BSN, University of Denver, 1960; a Diploma in Nursing, Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital, Council Bluffs, IA, 1948.
Career trajectory for the first twenty years was practiced in Nursing Service: Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Fort Logan and Denver; Colorado General Hospital, Denver; Swedish Hospital, Englewood; Galesburg State Research Hospital and Cottage Hospital, Galesburg, IL; and St. Joseph Hospital, Denver. The next twenty plus years were practiced in Nursing Education: Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA; University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA; University of Northern Colorado, School of Nursing, Greeley, CO; University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Nursing, MO and last chapter spent at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing as a Visiting Professor.
Phyllis held memberships in 25 professional organizations throughout the years; serving various offices, committee memberships, Board of Review and Evaluator/consultant.
Her 26 awards/recognitions were highly regarded as she made history as the 1st lay Director of Nursing Service in 93 years at St. Joseph Hospital, Denver ’66; Professor and Dean Emeritus of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia, ’89; Emeritus Membership, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, ’89, P. Drennan Endowed Scholarship by friends at UMC SON, ’98; Alumni of the Century Award, University of Colorado, SON, ’98 and Life Time Achievement Award, University of Colorado, College of Nursing, 2011.
She always had time to volunteer throughout her career for service and educational organizations; most recent Envision Board of Directors, NCMC Archives and History Project, and Archive Project for Hope Center for Independence.
Phyllis will be remembered for creating opportunities for others and mentoring 100’s of students, faculty and colleagues, completing 47 years of Nursing practice and enjoying every opportunity and challenge.
She is survived by her husband, Bob of Greeley; son, Charles of Thornton; daughter, Candace and husband Scott of Loveland, CO; grandchildren, Ashley and Melissa of Loveland, Kyle of Washington, DC; and brothers, Dale and David Wichman of Council Bluffs, IA.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother; and a sister-in-law. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Adamson Chapel. Memorial gifts may be made to “The Phyllis Drennan Endowed Scholarship at the Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia”; “Drennan Award, Zeta Omicron Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, Int., School of Nursing, University of Northern Colorado”; “College of Nursing Alumni Association at the University of Colorado”; or Charity of donor’s choice in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.adamsonchapels.com.
Judy Malkiewicz, RN, PhD and Phyllis Drennan, RN, PhD
JM,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update.
The mountains in the background scenery of the first house are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing such nice pictures.
Cheryl
Nice bloog
ReplyDelete