Justine Carol Irwin

Justine Carol Irwin “Dusty" September 11, 1933 - July 14, 2025 Justine was born to Bill & Inez Fritze in Longmont, Colorado. She was the wife of Frank Irwin; Married August 6th, 1955. Together they had a son, Thayne Laird Irwin born February 8, 1960 - and he unfortunately passed on January 28, 1961 from complications of pneumonia. In 1969 they adopted 2 Native American/ Hispanic boys - Charles and Tomas. 

Justine is survived by Charles Irwin (Janet), Grand Children - Rachael and Theresa & 1 great grandchild. Her Maternal Grandparents were Dr. Willard Justin White (Longmont), and teacher/millery owner, Bertha McKinney White (Caribou) and her paternal Grandparents were Julius & Anna Fritze (Chicago). Her sister was Paula Joan Fritze - Marin (Dan), and was Aunt to Lori, Kathy, Carol and Mary Marin. Her ‘Forever Friend and “like Sister” was Sandi Woods-Pounds (Skip). Justine attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines,Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State University with a dual BS in Home economics and Journalism, and Minor in Tele communicative arts. Justine began teaching in 1960 and taught 4th grade in Grand Lake, CO. She then taught English and Home Economics at Meeker High school where she was the Speech team coach & Audio Visual coordinator for 30 years. In Meeker she was Chairman of the Administrative Council of the United Methodist Church. 

Justine was a freelance writer selling articles to many publications. She served on the Colorado West Regional Mental Health board and Northwest mental health committee for NW Colorado. She did interpretative work for the National parks service and US Forest service & wrote a comprehensive history book on the White River National Forest. Additionally, she wrote children's stories, poetry and fiction. Summers were spent working with the US Forest service. Frank was a ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and then together they were Campground hosts and ranger at Trappers Lake. 

Their siamese cat, Zuni, traveled with them and helped create many zany stories! The Irwins lived in Meeker, Boulder and Green Valley, AZ. Later, summers were spent at the family cabin in Nederland, CO where the family has homesteaded since the late 1800’s. Justine was a lifetime Girl Scout and eventually became the District Director and Public Relations Director at the Moingona Girl Scout Council. She also became the Council District Director at Mountain Plains Girl Scout Council in addition to running several summer camps. Justine called the town of Nederland home and wrote a lot of history about the area. She volunteered for the mining museum, and was a liturgist at the Presbyterian Church. Justine’s Father’s family came from Germany. Books were sent from Germany in early years as gifts for Justine and her sister Paula. They both read and acted out the books. Later Justine found the medical books of her grandfather Dr. Willard J. White in his medical library. Pictures of anatomy were very interesting to her. Justine also read many of the revolutionary war books she found there. The American Indian books particularly caught her attention, where she gained the lifelong passion of engaging with Navajos and Zunis in Arizona where she often taught classes .

 In 1941 the Fritze family moved to Ohio on a 6 month work assignment for her father. Without their toys or books (in storage in Colorado) the Orrville public library became the babysitter for Justine and her sister Paula. Then, the war broke out which turned this assignment into a six year stint. Justine read many books on Westerns, loving each one more and more. Many of the books are now part of the collection at the Nederland homestead. As Justine became more involved with reading she began her own writing. In college Justine worked at WDI Radio & TV as a writer and broadcaster. This included writing a program for a children’s hour as well as a weekly series called “Words for the Wives". Justine met the mail truck driver, Frank Irwin in 1953 in Estes Park. They were married in 1955. They were so broke they took jobs as teachers and spent free time reading and going to museums. Justine always carried notebooks and pens, writing everywhere she went. She was working on a Novel set in the Estes Park/ Boulder/ Nederland area in the 1972 time period in the peak of the “Hippy and Street People” influx. Justine had many friends, in many different places and was known for her iconic smile. 

She is very loved and will be missed so much by friends, neighbors and family. A memorial will be held in Nederland, CO Saturday August 16th at 10am at the Arapaho Ranch. Donations in lieu of flowers will go to Nederland charities