Sperry March Millikin Koterwas

Obituary Sperry March Millikin Koterwas passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in her Monument home, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on September 22, 1943, in West Point, New York, the daughter of Col. John Millikin Jr. and Lucy Sperry Millikin. Her father, grandfather, and great grandfather were officers in the United States Army, and the family lived in many locations, including Germany, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii. She graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. While working at the Officers Club in Ft. Belvoir, VA as a receptionist, she met the love of her life, Donald J. Koterwas, a recent West Point graduate. After dating for only six weeks, they became engaged right before Don left for Vietnam in 1965, where he served with the Army Corps of Engineers. They wrote letters back and forth throughout his deployment, and when he was due to return, Don called Sperry to tell her that something had changed in his appearance. Fearing he had lost a limb, she told him she was ready to marry him regardless of his appearance. He then told her the physical change was that his hair had gotten a little gray. She laughed and told him she didnt care what color his hair was, just get home, which he did, in August 1966. Don and Sperry were married in Alexandria, Virginia on August 20, 1966. They settled first in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where they started their family. Sperry was Dons rock throughout his career, and exceptionally handled numerous moves with small children in tow. While devoting herself full-time to her role as wife and mother to five children, she also returned to school to earn her teaching degree. She obtained her Bachelors Degree in elementary Education from Florida State Universitys extension campus in the Canal Zone in Panama. When the family moved to Winchester, Virginia, in 1981, she began her teaching career as a first grade teacher at Sacred Heart School. It soon became evident that teaching was Sperrys gift and calling. She worked for District 38 schools in Monument for over 20 years, as a first grade teacher, special education teacher, gifted and talented teacher, and tutor. Many young lives were transformed by Sperrys dedication and love as she patiently led children of all abilities to reach their full potential. She obtained her Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Sperry loved taking care of her many grandchildren, having breakfast with her "breakfast club" at Village Inn, and taking walks by the pond with Don. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. She is survived by her brother, John P. Millikin and his wife Cindy, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and a sister, Ann Millikin Schado and her husband Pat, of Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to her beloved husband Don, she is survived by daughters Kathy (John) Plonsky of Castle Rock, Jennifer (Todd) Knisley of Monument, Tania (Mike) Landauer of Brighton, and sons Theodore (Bronwyn) Koterwas of Chipping Norton, England, and David (Tricia McGinnis) Koterwas of Brooklyn, New York, as well as eleven grandchildren: Brynn, Kitt, Jake and Joe Knisley; Julie and Kristen Plonsky, Keara and Una Koterwas, Myah and Collin Landauer, and Nadine McGinnis. She was predeceased by a daughter, Laura Christine, and her parents, John and Lucy. Services Visitation Sunday March 6, 2016 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM St. Patricks Catholic Church 6455 Brook Park Dr. Colorado Springs, Co. 80918 Rosary Sunday March 6, 2016 7:00 PM St. Patricks Catholic Church 6455 Brook Park Dr. Colorado Springs, Co. 80918 Mass of Christian Burial Monday March 7, 2016 10:00 AM St. Patricks Catholic Church 6455 Brook Park Dr. Colorado Springs, Co. 80918 Interment Monday March 7, 2016 12:00 PM Monument Cemetery Monument, CO.