Donald Elliott

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Donald Arthur Elliott went home to heaven January 1, 2024. He was born on September 17th, 1940, to William “Bill” Elliott and Ruth Deason Elliott in Salem, Indiana. 

In 1949, Bill sold the family farm in Indiana and moved everyone to Windsor, Colorado, where they started a dairy farm. They moved to Greeley, Colorado in 1956. Donald attended Greeley Central High School. Their basketball team went to State in 1958, the year Donald graduated.

He then attended McPherson College where he played football, basketball, and ran track. He married Nancy Ruth Erisman on June 10, 1961, in Quinter, Kansas. After graduating from McPherson with an industrial arts education major Donald and Nancy moved to Alma, Iowa, to teach school, where he coached football and track and the girls' basketball team. He enjoyed the 6-on-6 girls' basketball. Donald also became the proud father of a baby girl, Raquel, born in May 1963.

In 1964, thanks to the weather in Iowa, he decided it was better to work with his father, so they moved to Greeley. He worked for Elliott & Elliott, Inc. where he used his industrial art skills to design projects and manage home construction for the business where he became skilled in developing efficient buildings. He worked in building many single-family homes, duplexes, fourplexes, and apartment buildings.

After managing numerous apartments for Elliott & Elliott, he eventually broke away from the family business establishing Two Rivers Investments (TRI). He became a real estate broker and managed apartments, spear headed the formation of Weld County Apartment Association, serving as president several terms. He and Jan went to Washington DC acting as a lobbyist for the state apartment association. He also served on the Weld County Council. In 1998 his son-in-law Neal Jandreau bought TRI and it still thrives today.

During this time his family increased with son Brad being born in June 1966 and son Shawn arriving in September 1967. Sadly, his wife Nancy died unexpectedly in 1990. He then married Janelle (Jan) Book in February 1994 and became a step-father to Victoria Book and James Book, Jr.

His greatest joy came from being a father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Donald also enjoyed helping others, driven by a strong faith instilled by loving parents He served on church boards, and the Western Plains District Church of the Brethren Camp Colorado board of trustees. He and Nancy were founding members of the Peace Community Church of the Brethren in Windsor, Colorado. He also designed their church building and acted as superintendent of construction which was done by all volunteer workers. Years later he added nine stained glass windows. He also made stained glass windows for four other churches.

After becoming a snowbird and spending half the year in Arizona, Donald took up bridge and earned a senior silver status as a life master bridge player. He enjoyed being a bridge club director for several years. He and Jan enjoyed traveling to many different western states where he played in Regional Bridge tournaments. He also became a talented stained-glass worker. He was a very creative person whether designing buildings, managing apartments, negotiating real estate deals, or working on woodworking projects or stained glass. He made hundreds of toys for children’s Christmas stockings and Beads of Courage boxes for children with cancer.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife Nancy Erisman Elliott, his parents Bill and Ruth Elliott, and his sisters Bonnie Elliott Peterson Anderson and Waneta Elliott. 

He is survived by his caring wife Jan, daughter Raquel Elliott Jandreau (Neal) of Windsor, CO, son Brad S Elliott (Heidi) of Wichita, KS, and son Shawn W Elliott (Buffi) of Greeley, CO, Jan’s children James Book and Victoria Book and his grandchildren Dylan, Faith and Zane Jandreau, Savannah, Megan and Jenna Elliott, step-grandchildren Mandi Welch and Maggie Bratton, his brother Leroy Elliott (Gwen) of Fisher, IN, his sister Ellen Bradley of Peoria AZ, and many nieces and nephews and 4 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to McPherson college Elliott family Scholarship Fund.