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Carmen ‘Gene’ Flogaus

Former Lenado resident Carmen “Gene” Flogaus died at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs on Jan. 3.Gene was born in Crane, Mo., on March 28, 1916.Gene’s young life was spent in southwestern Missouri and Clayton, N.M. As a teenager she worked in the resorts at Branson, Mo. She credited this experience with giving her the attributes to become a great cook.During World War II, Gene worked as a “Rosy the Riveter” in Wichita, Kan. After the war she moved to Colorado, where her sister Maud and brother-in-law Walter Cowen had homesteaded the Milk Creek Ranch near Wolcott.Gene met her husband of 56 years, Robert Flogaus, in Glenwood Springs in 1948. They were married June 17, 1949. They moved to Lenado, on Woody Creek, where the Flogaus Lumber Co. operated.As a young bride, Gene cooked for the timber crew at the top of Larkspur Mountain. In the winter she rode a sled down to the main camp, seven miles away, with her dog Skidder and her cat Tommy.Gene participated in the upbringing of her children, Betty and Jay, by being a 4-H leader and driving a school bus over long, muddy roads. She hunted and fished, too, and as a lover of the outdoors educated herself and others on every plant, animal and rock she came upon.The Flogaus Lumber Co. closed in 1975 and Bob and Gene moved to the Pisgah Mountain Ranch at McCoy to raise Black Angus Beef cattle. Gene enjoyed being part of the community and became known as a local historian. She worked hard as a genealogist, making many inroads into local family histories. She enjoyed her relationships with numerous nieces and nephews.The Flogaus family next moved to Gypsum in 1993 to be closer to conveniences. Gene lived a long life despite a congenital heart defect, diabetes and numerous other health problems. She always displayed courage and a positive attitude despite the pain and trouble she went through.She was the youngest of 12 children born to Laura Anne and Abraham Basley Gooding. Gene was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Myrtle, Dulce, Maud, Geraldine, Ila and Erma-Lee; and brothers Jay, Michael Doyle, Orba, Richard and Leoford.Gene is survived by her husband, Robert; son Jay (Carol) Flogaus, from Gypsum; daughter Betty (William) Wimmer of Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; grandsons Emmett Wimmer, J. Scott, Christopher Flogaus; and granddaughter Katherine Banner (Todd). She has two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Greta Wimmer.Memorials can be made to The American Diabetes Association, through its website, http://www.diabetes.org, or by mail: American Diabetes Association, PO Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131. Note that your donation is in memory/honor of Carmen Flogaus.