Gerald Erwin Hettinger

Thursday, April 15, 2021

April 16, 1948 - April 6, 2021

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Gerald (Jerry) Erwin Hettinger of Castle Rock, Colo., passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo. He was 72.

We lost an extraordinary husband, father and friend with his passing. His energy, joy for life, smile and bigger-than-life personality will be truly missed by everyone who knew him.

Jerry was the eldest son of Erwin Hettinger and Anita Reade. He was raised in Wauneta, Neb., where he graduated from Wauneta High School and then went on to Denver, Colo., to attend business school.

Jerry met the love of his life, Phyllis Powell, when they were only 16. They resided in Littleton until 2017, when they moved to Castle Rock, following an automobile accident that left him unable to walk. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just a week before his passing. To this marriage one child was born, Cara Christine.

Jerry spent most of his career in sales and enjoyed selling Broncos sports apparel. He loved taking his grandchildren on adventures like putt-putt golf, fishing in the Colorado mountains and feeding the ducks at local ponds. He enjoyed trying new things in his garden from tomatoes to roses, camping, hunting and traveling throughout the Colorado mountains and visiting friends that had moved away from Colorado. He loved the Broncos and was an avid pheasant hunter and a lifetime member of the Littleton Elks.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Erwin Hettinger and Anita Reade and many aunts and uncles.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Hettinger of Castle Rock; daughter, Cara and husband, Todd Billings; grandchildren, Emelie Mae and Carson Leroy of Castle Rock; brother, Brent Hettinger of Georgetown, Colo.; sister, Cheryl and husband, Kent Richards of Parker, Colo., and sister, Kathy Hettinger of McCook, Neb.; and many cousins and close friends.

A service in celebration of Jerry’s life will be at Drinkwine Mortuary in Littleton at 1 p.m. on April 19, 2021. He chose cremation. There will be no visitation or viewing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Craig Hospital https://secure3.convio.net/craig/site/Donation2?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400&m... in Jerry’s name and memory.

*Jerry’s family would love to thank you for your memorial contributions. Please be sure to make your memorial contributions in Jerry’s name.