Vivian Blanche Bohlender

Vivian Bohlender, 90, of Greeley passed away May 15, 2010 with her family by her side. Vivian was born on September 15, 1919 in Wellington, CO to Clarence and Olive (Keirnes) Hughes. Her early years were spent in Las Animas, La Junta, Berthoud, and Gilcrest. She married Leon Bohlender on November 19, 1939 in Greeley. He was the light of her life and the two were rarely seen apart; he died Feb 21, 1999. They lived and worked on the Bohlender family farm in La Salle for several years. Vivian was an outstanding cook and actually made a career of it. Some of her many specialties included Krautburgers and beautiful, delicious pies. In 1948, Vivian and Leon opened Leon’s Waffle Shop in downtown Greeley and later sold it to her brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Iris Hughes. She continued to cook for them at Leon’s and later at the Centennial Deli. She also worked for the Greeley School’s lunch program until her retirement in 2005. Her Christian faith, large family and many friends were most dear to her. She was extremely close to all of her brothers and sisters. She was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She was happiest when family and friends gathered to enjoy her cooking, play games, and laugh together. She immensely enjoyed watching her great-grandchildren play sports, shopping with "her girls”, family reunions, working outdoors, crocheting, sewing, her beloved pets, and listening to gospel music. She will always be remembered for her zealous love of life, never-ending help and support for her family, sweet smile, contagious laugh and favorite saying, "Woopee…live it up”! She had an amazing knack for finding the good in things, no matter how difficult. For the last year of her life, her daughter and son-in-law felt blessed to be her caretakers as she could no longer live alone. Her family will painfully miss her. Survivors are her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Kenneth Hoehn; granddaughter and husband, Rene’ and Gary Novinger ; great-grandchildren, Amber and Tyler Novinger, all of Greeley; three step-grandchildren, Janell Ford , Kenneth L. Hoehn II, Amy Cunningham; and five step-great grandchildren all of California; one brother, Edwin Hughes of Lakewood and one sister, Shirley Bohlender of Scottsbluff, NE. She is preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Evelyn, Luella Fox, Geraldine Smith; three brothers, Clarence, Ray and Wayne Hughes, and a son-in-law. A celebration of her life will be held at the Greeley Wesleyan Church 3600 W 22nd St. on Wednesday, May 26th at 1:00 p.m. with a luncheon following. Vivian gave the gift of promise for the future by donating her body to science for the research and cure of Alzheimer’s disease. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association-www.alz.org/tribute/vivianbohlender; "Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado, A Kid’s Place of Greeley, Eldergarden Adult Day Program or any no-kill animal” shelter in care of Adamson funeral and Cremation Services, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.adamsonchapels.com