Nadine Henry, 63, died Oct. 2 at the Gunnison Senior Care Center Hospice Room after a short but courageous battle with an aggressive form of non-smoker lung cancer.

She was born Feb. 21, 1956, in Denver, to LaMar C. and Nancy Jane Henry. She attended school in Brighton and graduated high school in Goodland, Kansas. She graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in physical education and history.

The first love of Nadine’s life were the youth, whom she taught and led throughout her career and considered “her kids.” Upon college graduation, she first taught school in Hagler, Nebraska, and then coached basketball and taught P.E. at Fairmont Junior High in Boise, Idaho. From the very beginning of her career, Nadine believed education should be “learning by doing” which led her to Cal-Wood Outdoor Learning Center in Jamestown.

Nadine’s second love were the Rocky Mountains. She led trail crew programs for the Student Conservation Association for seven summers, again mentoring and motivating volunteer high school youth. One of her most treasured accomplishments was her six-month, 2,000 mile through-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

These loves were joined in the last 17 years of her life in her devotion to Gunnison County and Colorado Extension 4-H. Her brother John said, “Nadine was a person whose passion was larger than herself. That passion was 4-H. And she chose that passion over everything else.”

Her Extension colleagues said of her, “Nadine has served as an exceptional agent and can be credited with a long list of outstanding accomplishments that have had local, regional, and statewide impacts. Much of Nadine’s work takes place behind the scenes. Her humble nature results in her intentionally being unrecognized for her hard work.”

She is survived by her brothers and sisters: Robert (Linda) Henry, Eaton; Marinan (Don) Keeling, Fredericksburg, Texas; Charles (Nancy) Henry, Granby; Nancy (Jerry) Meyring, Alliance, Nebraska; Margaret Henry Gubber (John), Windsor; and John (Jo Ann Herkenhoff), Fort Collins. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who will miss her greatly.

In cooperation with her family, Gunnison County Extension has planned a gathering in Nadine’s memory taking place at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11 at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, 275 S. Spruce St., Gunnison. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy pie, tell stories, and remember the love she shared with her family, friends, and youth.

If donations are offered, Nadine wished memorials be made to either of the following:

• The Gunnison 4-H Forever Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley. Checks can be made to “CFGV” and specify “4-H Forever Fund in memory of Nadine” in the memo space (P.O. Box 7057, Gunnison, CO 81230). Donations will forever help the beautiful and successful 4-H program she led in Gunnison County.
• The State Colorado 4-H Foundation, with checks made payable to “Colorado 4-H Foundation” (4040 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523). The Colorado 4-H Foundation provides positive youth development and education by raising and distributing funds in support of diverse Colorado 4-H programs.