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J. Ahniwake Van Vleet
J. Ahniwake Van Vleet
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J. Van Vleet Obituary
Ahniwake graduated from Siloam Springs High School in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, as part of the Class of 1961. After graduation, she moved to Colorado, where she met Duane F. Van Vleet. The two married on September 1, 1965, and shared over 54 years together until Duane's passing on January 28, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane; her parents; and her brothers, Wil Gardner Jr. and Jack Gardner.
Ahniwake is survived by her sons: Mark Van Vleet and his wife Carol of Centennial; Tim Van Vleet of Aurora; and Jack Van Vleet and his wife Annette of Centennial. She is also survived by her brother, Tom Gardner, and his wife Rosa of Thornton; her sister, Lynda (Gardner) Telles of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and her beloved grandchildren: Grant Van Vleet of Custer, South Dakota; Cole Van Vleet of Centennial; Kyle Van Vleet of Centennial; Luke Van Vleet of Centennial; Brett Van Vleet of Centennial; and Lilly Van Vleet of Highlands Ranch. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory.
A service to honor Ahniwake's life will be held on February 25, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, Colorado.
Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Lynda Gardner
March 11, 2025
My beautiful sister.
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Sharon Gardner Fairlie
February 19, 2025
Memories of my cousin Ahniwake: she was named after our grandmother and I was jealous. As cousins when my family visited, she and I played and slept in the attic of my grandparents Claremore home. We `fished´ for tadpoles in the nearby creek. On another visit, she talked me into riding on the handlebars of her bike which promptly crashed sending me sprawling on the gravel. I still have the scar on my knee. When her family moved to Siloam Springs, I spent a week of summer vacation with them. She and her friends took me to the movies to see Rock Around the Clock. We sat on the front row through two showings!
We lost touch until meeting as adults in September at the Cherokee Homecoming event. We watched our cousin Jim compete in the bow and arrow contest and sat through a story telling by one of the elders.
The last time I saw her was when I was in Denver one year in July. She and her husband were so gracious. I visited their home and enjoyed the beautiful gladiolas of Dwayne´s. They rented a van and took me and another friend of theirs sightseeing in the snow covered mountains.
Ahniwake holds a special place in my heart and I am grateful to have had her as a cousin. Rest in peace dear one. Say hello to Grandma Gardner, Will, Jack, Jim and Buddy for me.
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