Martha I. Hein

Martha Ivon Hein passed away on February 11, 2025. Martha was born on November 13, 1933 in Pasadena, to Martha (Ruyf) and Ivan Olson. Ivan was a pilot for Continental Airlines and the family lived in California and Wichita Kansas before settling in Denver. Martha Ivon had two sisters, Ann and Carolyn. After graduating from East High School in Denver, Martha Ivon attended Colorado College for two years and then transferred to Kansas University. At KU, she studied Education and met her “one and only” Harold D. Hein on a blind date. Upon graduation, the couple moved to Denver, where they married in 1957. Martha Ivon taught second grade until the birth of her son, Christopher, followed by three daughters, Diane, Jennifer, and Andrea. Martha Ivon returned to teaching at the elementary level, working with special needs children for 25 years. Martha and Harold built a house on Parfet Street in Arvada where they would live for over 50 years. Martha could frequently be found in the garden or sitting on the red bench on the front porch looking out at the Rocky Mountains. In the early 1970s, the couple built a cabin in Breckenridge, a wonderful gathering place for the family to spend a lot of time together over the years. Martha Ivon liked to play tennis and travel. She and Harold traveled the world - European river cruises, cruises to the Panama Canal and Alaska, and the Caribbean with friends. Her favorite places to visit were France and Maui. Martha and Harold generously organized family beach vacations in California, Oregon and Hawaii with all their children, grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren. She taught all her grandchildren how to have fun on vacation and the importance of always carrying a Kleenex in your pocket. In her later years, Martha Ivon enjoyed painting, creating art with pastels and reading in a comfy chair by the front window of her home. She loved celebrating holidays and birthdays with her family and was a loyal Kansas Jayhawks fan throughout her life. She is survived by her son Christopher (Sue) and daughters, Diane (Jeff), Jennifer (Ben) and Andrea (David), as well as 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Martha’s curious mind and playful spunk will be missed by all. A memorial service will be held at a later date.