Louise Volkstorf

Obituary Louise Annette Volkstorf died of congestive heart failure in her home on December 6, 2015 in Colorado Springs at the age of 77. Ms Volkstorf is survived by be her friend and companion Barbara Neilon of Colorado Springs, her two brothers Charles Herbert Volkstorf of Monce, IL, and Michael Raymond Volkstorf, and two sisters, Janice Therese Archer of Tinley Park, IL, and Mary Ann Koehler of Hobart, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred Ayers of Ansted, West Virginia and Charles Michaels Volkstorf of Chicago, and a sister Carolyn Marie Volkstorf of Colorado Springs. Ms Volkstorf was born on August 13, 1938 in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1960. In 1966 she earned a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in Loyola University of Chicago; in 1978 she received a Specialist in Education degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder. She was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1962. Louise taught physical education at Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn, Il from 1960-1963. From 1963-1965 she was employed by Special Services as a program director at an Army Service Club in Munich, Germany. She taught Physical Education at Niles High School in Skokie, IL in 1965-1966. In the summer of 1966 while visiting friends in Colorado Springs, she applied to teach Physical Education at Cheyenne Mountain High School and was hired. She taught at CMHS until her early retirement due to complication from breast cancer surgery in 1985. She coached swimming, volleyball, tennis and track & field at CMHS. Volleyball was her specialty earning 7 league championships and 5 state tournaments. In 1981 she coached the All-State Volleyball Team South in the Colorado Womens Coaches Association. For many years Louise played competitive volleyball and tennis. In 1999 the Senior Womens Team for ages 50+ sponsored by Lynmar Racquet Club won the area, district and sectional tournaments to qualify for the National Tournament in Palm Springs, California. Ms Volkstorf was a leader in promoting high school girls sports. In 1985, she received the "most inspirational athlete" award presented by the Sportswomen of Colorado and was inducted into the Colorado High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the first woman to receive that honor as an outstanding mentor for female coaches and athletes in Colorado. In 1988 she received the Victory Club Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for 100 career victories. After her retirement from teaching, Louise is best known for her many hiking and climbing adventures. From 1978 to 1985 she backpacked the 1400 miles of the Appalachian Trail. In 1980 she hiked the 268 mile trail of the Pennine Way National Trail from Edale, England to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland. In 1981 Louise climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, a 6-day expedition of 80 miles. She was the only woman in the group of 12 women to complete the 19,340 ft. ascent. In 1982 Louise hiked and climbed the Alps in Switzerland and Austria. In 1984 she completed a 100-mile wilderness canoe trip in Canada. In 1985 she went scuba diving in the Caribbean and was certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver. In 1989 she scuba dived off the coast of the Galapagos Islands. During the 1980s she skied most of the Colorado ski areas and climbed 37 of the Colorado fourteeners. In 1983 she backpacked the 200 mile Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. During the 1990s Ms. Volkstorf enjoyed ocean cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, the British Isles and Hawaii. In the 2000s she discovered river cruises and visited the Christmas markets on the Rhine River, the Mosel, and Danube. Louise also found time to participate in several hobbies: leather craft, reading, scrapbooking, genealogy, computer projects, concerts, and plays. She volunteered in the surgical waiting room at St. Francis Hospital and in the library at Benet Hill Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 11, at 10:00 am at Benet Hill Monastery, 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, Colorado. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Louise Volkstorfs life. Burial will be in St. Benedicts Cemetery at Benet Hill Monastery. Donations may be made to Benet Hill Monastery or the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607. The family would to thank Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care and Home Instead Senior Care as well as her many medical professionals who cared for her in the past. Services Mass of Christian Burial Friday December 11, 2015 10:00 AM Benet Hill Monastery 3190 Benet Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80921