Obituary of Wynn Eakins

Wynn Eakins, 69, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Arvada, Colorado on January 1, 2024. 

 

Wynn was born on January 11, 1954 in Pittsburgh, PA to Benjamin Wynn and Nancy Johnson Eakins. He grew up as the middle child of three siblings in a military family, which meant they moved every few years throughout his childhood. Wynn grew up in such varied locations as the Philippines, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and the Washington DC area. He excelled in school but loved playing sports above all else, especially soccer, which he played into his forties. The Eakins family ended up settling in Boulder, Colorado, where Wynn began his undergrad studies at the University of Colorado. He went on to study at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, where he discovered his love for geology, and Ft. Lewis College in Durango, where he received his Bachelor of Science. 

 

Wynn began his career as a coal geologist working for ARCO in the midwest, John T. Boyd Company in Arizona and Canada, and the Colorado Geological Survey. Wynn later attended Colorado School of Mines and earned a masters degree in Hydrogeology. During this time he transitioned from working as a coal geologist to specializing in environmental and waste management. He worked for the Colorado Health Department inspecting BLM landfills, and for Wastren and AWS supporting the closure of Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. In 2005 he contracted as a site assessment specialist for CH2M Hill, working with FEMA in New Orleans during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. In 2006 Wynn started working for Cordilleran Compliance (later, Olssen Associates) performing environmental compliance assessments for drill sites. Most recently, he saw himself contracting for FEMA again during the recovery from the disastrous September 2013 floods in northern Colorado. 

 

Wynn was married to the love of his life for 42 years. He met Vicki Allen in 1976 when both were members of the Fiddlesteppers square dance club. They were married on March 27th, 1981 and moved into their family home in Arvada later that same year. In 1987 they were blessed with the birth of their son Gregory Michael. Wynn was an enthusiastic father, spending much of his spare time coaching his son’s sports teams, involving himself in Greg’s Cub Scouts and marching band, and taking him on father/son adventures such as hikes, bike rides, and a special trip to Miami to watch the Broncos win the Super Bowl in 1999. 

 

Wynn loved traveling and spending time outdoors, often documenting his trips with scrapbooks and albums. Some of his favorites were a week-long pack trip through the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico in 1966, and a family houseboat trip on Lake Powell in 1993. He was a history buff who visited the east coast several times to tour historic sites, such as Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields. Closer to home he was an experienced outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, fishing, skiing, and backpacking in the Colorado mountains. 

 

Wynn was fortunate to live near many extended family members in the Denver/Boulder area. Themed parties, picnics, and get togethers were a frequent occurrence, and Wynn loved hosting a huge Fourth of July party for many years.  He was also famous for his quirky sense of humor, prominently displayed in the Eakins family Christmas letters which were a perennial favorite for many adoring readers. 

 

Throughout his adult life Wynn was passionate about many things. He was a sports junkie, and was a dedicated fan of the Colorado Rockies, college sports, and golf. He was also very invested in current events and politics, regularly tuning in to cable news and late night talk shows. He was very strong in his Christian faith, having been raised Methodist and converted to Catholicism. And whether comfortable at home in his favorite recliner or driving hundreds of miles between job sites, he loved to listen to country music. 

 

During the past decade Wynn dealt with numerous physical and medical ailments. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease which necessitated changes in his treatment for bipolar disorder, and he was never able to regain a stable quality of life. Frequent medication changes led to manic and depressed episodes, powerful side effects that reduced his mobility and cognitive function, and regular hospitalizations. In spite of this, for the last three years he very much enjoyed being “Pop” to his first granddaughter, spending time with close family and friends, and reminiscing about all of his life experiences. He would often say that he had had a wonderful life. 

 

Wynn is survived by his wife Vicki, son Greg (Stephanie), granddaughter Harper, sister Mary Seppo (Paul), uncle Jim Johnson, sisters-in-law Cynthia Zwart (Boyd) and Kathy Breheny (Joe), along with many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, sister-in-law Sunny Allen, and brother-in-law Mike Allen. 

 

A service honoring Wynn’s life is scheduled for 10:30am January 25th, 2024 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 12735 W 58th Ave Arvada, CO 80002. The mass will be preceded by a rosary starting at 10:00am for those who wish to join, and followed by a reception in the church hall. If you are unable to join in person, the service will be streamed online. Please contact the family for details. If you are unable to join in person, the service will be streamed online at https://youtube.com/live/Nbwtpw3QOaM?feature=share 

 

If you wish to honor Wynn, donations in his name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or Jefferson Center for Mental Health.