Maurice Seelinger

Maurice Seelinger

When someone has lived almost one-hundred years, how does one summarize the experiences and achievements of such a rich and full life in one short page?  This task is made all the more difficult especially when one considers not only my Dad’s history, but also how his history intertwined with that of his wife and immediate family.

Maurice (Moe/Dad) was born in Hanna, Wyoming on April 11, 1924, to his parents Earl and Adeline Seelinger.  Time spent in Wyoming was relatively short as coal mine safety presented a concern to Adeline, so the family moved to Windsor, Colorado and then eventually to Greeley, Colorado.  Dad and his two brothers, Phillip (now deceased), and Donald (living in Albuquerque with his wife Jane) lived most of their young lives in Colorado.  I have many memories of Dad’s stories growing up in Colorado. Stories about living the rural life, their dog Katie, and sharing space with chickens and the occasional cow.  Grandfather’s cash and carry grocery store, escapades with his brothers, cousins, and family business ventures such as his cousin Frank’s seed and hatchery were some of Dad’s frequently told stories.

Earl, the father of the Seelinger boys: Phillip, Maurice, and Donald, served in WWI as a Gunnery Sergeant. Phillip and Donald both served in the military.  Maurice had rheumatic fever as a child, and due to complications, was not able to serve in active duty during WWII.  However, Dad was recruited by Boeing to move to Seattle and become a draftsman etching designs on metal sheets during the war.

Post war, Moe went to the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and during an arranged Friday night dance with St. Joseph’s Nursing School, Dad met the love of his life, Doris Fritsche.  She received a degree in Nursing, and Dad earned a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Upon graduation, Dad worked in the oil drilling business.  Doris dutifully followed Dad to locations in Nebraska, Kansas, Houston and Midland, Texas, and Southern New Mexico and worked hard as a registered nurse in all these locations.  While in Midland, Mom took care of Robin Bush and remarked how kind Laura and George were as loving parents.

Dad purchased our childhood home in Aztec in 1958.  Work took him to Rawlins, Wyoming for almost 3 years, but then he returned to Aztec for most of the remainder of his life. Dad and mother lived in our home there for over 60 years.  They were married for 69 years.

Dad was a very loving man and steadfast caretaker.  As mother moved further into cognitive decline, Dad was dedicated to caring for her to the best of his abilities.  When those abilities began to reach their limit, Gretchen and I were finally able bring them to Albuquerque in early December 2017.  Mother passed shortly after her relocation.  Dad remained here with us in Albuquerque until his final days.  He loved his wife (Mom), prayed to her and missed her every day, and longingly gazed at her photos he kept on his nightstand.

Dad loved to fish, play cribbage, work in the yard, listen to Rush Limbaugh, and work on cars and projects around the house; but mostly, he loved to swim.  Swimming became a mid-life passion necessitated by the need to maintain his health.  He swam up to his 96th birthday, despite a high school coach that said he was never going to be a swimmer…  I think he said he swam over 6,000 miles during his time in the water, and he kept a log to prove it!

Maurice is survived by his daughter, Gretchen Seelinger; his son, Erick Seelinger; his two grandsons, Karl and Nicholas Nelson; his brother, Don Seelinger; and nieces and nephews, Danny, Geoff, Timothy Seelinger, and Genevieve Hale.