June Ahmann

After a life well lived, at age 86, June Ahmann closed her eyes to Earth and opened them to Heaven on December 31, 2010 in Helena, Montana. Born in Pocahontas, Iowa on January 22, 1924, June was the second of ten children of Ralph and Mae Hudek. She grew up on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression and always maintained her identity as an Iowa farm girl. Her family valued education highly and June was the first of the family to attend and graduate from college. She graduated from Iowa State University in Foods and Nutrition at Iowa State University in 1945. After graduating she taught high school in Minnesota, including high school physics, something she felt wholly unequipped to do; but, true to her spirit, she persevered. In 1948, June married J. Stanley Ahmann and devoted the next 25 years of her life to being a wife and mother to their four children. June and Stan left Iowa for Ithaca, New York and then moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1960. She always believed in community service and during these years did extensive volunteer work with community, church, and school. June then entered a new phase of her life, for which she will be most remembered. With a special concern for the elderly who had no one, June increased her volunteer work. She returned to the work force doing volunteer training. She earned a masters degree in 1978 from Colorado State University. Her dissertation was “Training Volunteers to Be Effective Helpers.” Unlike so many dissertations, this one wasn’t to collect dust on the shelves. She turned this work into a volunteer training program she named “SALUD—Caring, not Curing.” Over the ensuing years she trained hundreds of volunteers how to be with people in need. The spirit of her training is captured in its name. SALUD stands for sensitivity, acceptance, love, understanding and dignity. Her passion and caring lives on in those many volunteers and the many lives touched by June and those volunteers she trained. Twelve step programs were very important to June and she saw the value of these programs for all people not just those suffering from addiction. She was instrumental in bringing Guide for Living to Fort Collins. ‘Guide’, as she called it, is a 12 step program for anyone. Guide for Living groups continue in Fort Collins today. A woman who always had a passion for learning, June loved to share what she learned with anyone who would listen. “She gave handouts” was how June wanted to be remembered. She loved gardening, reading and collected bells for her house that she named “Casa de las Campanas.” Her home was always open to those in need. A long time active member of Blessed John XXIII University Parish, June’s faith in God and His loving presence centered everything in her life. June would meet each challenge by raising one hand to put it in the Lord’s hand and then touching her ear to remind her to listen to His wisdom and guidance. June is survived by her four children and their families, Sandi and Dave Ashley of Helena, Montana, Sheri Carmon-Miller and Brad Miller of Fort Collins, Colorado, Steve and Karen Ahmann of Laurel, Montana, and Shelly Ahmann and Mark White of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, one great grandchild and seven brothers and sisters. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Aspen Gardens Assisted Living of Helena, Montana for their skilled and loving care of June. Memorials in June’s honor may be given to The Mission, a homeless shelter in Fort Collins, via Catholic Charities 4455 Pecos St., Denver, Colorado 80211.

June Ahmann

January 22, 1924 - December 31, 2010