Goldie Marie Pizel was a beloved grandmother, mother and wife during her incredible 92 years of life. She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, at her home in Littleton, Colo.
Goldie had a long and full life. She was born on Feb. 10, 1930, in Agra, to two loving parents, George H. and Rose (Schmidt) Phillips. She graduated from Goodland High School in the class of 1947.
Goldie met the love of her life, Vernon L. Pizel, while still in high school. They were married June 22, 1947, at the First Christian Church in Goodland, Kansas during a dual ceremony for both her and her sister-in-law.
Vernon served in the Air Force during World War II. When Vernon left the Air Force, he became a partner in a family business called BP&VP Construction Company aka “The Alphabet Boys." Goldie and Vernon moved numerous times for his job traveling all over the great state of Kansas while he helped build parts of Interstate 70 and other roads. Goldie and Vernon welcomed their daughter Diana Dec. 14, 1949, and their son John on July 5, 1952.
In 1963, they settled back in Goodland where Goldie worked as assistant manager at Sears before they moved to the farm in Kanorado. While on the farm, Goldie enjoyed helping with the cattle, gardening, canning, as well as helping her kids with their 4-H activities.
Goldie was also known for her impeccable sewing abilities. She crafted many outfits and costumes throughout all her years. She was known to stay up all night making costumes for dance recitals for Diana and horse shows for Jordan when things didn’t always go as planned.
Goldie had a heart for caring for people and dedicated herself to serve others in various ways. She became a full-time caretaker to her son, John, after his accident in 1968 until his death in 1984. After Vernon’s death in 1987, Goldie moved to Denver to help care for her granddaughters Lindsay and Jordan.
She then volunteered as an aid at Westridge Elementary when Lindsay was in kindergarten. She later was hired on to be a paid paraprofessional for the school. For over 20 years children in the hallways of Westridge Elementary called her “Grandma Goldie."
She filled the grandparent role for many children through the years and loved them all as her own. Goldie earned the title of “great-grandma” in 2014 with the birth of her first great-grandson Logan. She helped Jordan raise Logan and run an in-home daycare where she again shined at being a caretaker. Grandma Goldie always had a lap to sit on, arms open for a hug, and an “I love you” waiting to be said.
She doted on her granddaughters. Lindsay and Jordan couldn’t spend a minute with her without her telling them how much she loved them and how proud she was to be their grandmother. She showed up to almost every school event, sports practice/game, horse riding show, dance recitals, etc. they had. Lindsay and Jordan's friends lovingly called their group of grandparents the “G-Unit” and always noted how they were always there for them. That love continued to her two great-grandsons Logan and Timothy. We know without a doubt that she would have showed up for them in the same ways if given the chance.
We will miss Goldie dearly, but we are so grateful for the time we had to spend with her. We will always feel her presence in our hearts. We all will remember Goldie for her love of family and all children, her multitude of skills, her sass, her care-taking abilities, and her endearing stubbornness.
Goldie is survived by her daughter Diana (Ellis) Black of Hall, Montana. Granddaughters Lindsay (Jenni) Black of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Jordan (Tim) Doyle of Hall, Mont. Great-grandsons Logan and Timothy of Hall, Mont., and sister-in-law, Shirley Churchill of Novato, Calif. She is preceded in death by her mother Rose Phillips, Father George H. Phillips, step-mother Lota Phillips, husband Vernon Pizel, and son John Pizel.
Funeral service for Goldie will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Rev. Dr. Donald Warren officiating. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. (MT) Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Koons-Russell Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be given to The Denver Hospice or charity of your choice and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.