Jack L. Dignum

Article Last Updated; Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:03AM

Dignum

Former Durango resident Jack L. Dignum died in Fredericksburg, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. He was 82.

Mr. Dignum was born to Albert and Jessie Dignum in Springfield, Ohio, on June 25, 1927.

He attended high school and college in California and also attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

On July 12, 1946, he married Retta Cohee in Huntington Park, Calif.

Mr. Dignum served as an aviation mechanist's mate third-class in the Navy until 1948. He went through basic training in Oklahoma, where he held gunnery records for many years.

Mr. Dignum was an ordained minister in the Volunteers of America. He spent most of his professional years working for the organization, rising to the senior management level as the regional director of the Midwest.

He lived in Denver from 1953 to 1987, when he moved to Durango. While in the Denver-metro area, he was a member of the Arvada City Council, serving as mayor pro tem for two years and on the Zoning Commission for seven years.

Mr. Dignum was a deacon in the Arvada Presbyterian Church. After moving to Durango, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Durango. He was a lifetime member of the Lions Club and the Freemasons.

Mr. Dignum was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Retta Cohee Dignum.

He is survived by his sons Kirk A. Dignum of Durango and Jack L. Dignum of Cle Elum, Wash.; daughter Jan Dignum Scott of Durango; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A private family graveside ceremony will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, with burial in the plot next to his wife.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mercy Health Foundation, 1010 Three Springs Blvd., Durango, CO 81301; or Volunteers of America Colorado Branch, 2660 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205.