Allen "Cowboy" Lee Doorneweerd

ALLEN LEE "COWBOY" DOORNEWEERD was born on January 30, 1948 to Dietrich “Dick” and Leah (Wulf) Doorneweerd in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He attended Lester Elementary School and later Brandon Valley and Hills-Beaver Creek High School into the twelfth grade. He went on to serve two years in the United States Army and was stationed in Munich, Germany. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned stateside and worked his early years as an apprentice bricklayer for Banks Masonry. He moved to Black Hawk, South Dakota, where he worked various construction jobs and helped raise four children. He later moved with his family to Aurora, Colorado, where he went to truck driving school and started driving for Schneider National. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 11, 2001 and continued driving trucks while also helping his family run a café. He retired from trucking after almost 40 years and moved back to Beaver Creek.

His family remembers him as a good man who stepped up and took care of things even in the hardest times when he didn’t have to. He was a good father and adored all of his grandchildren and the time he was able to spend with them.

On Thursday, September 30, 2021, Allen died of natural causes at his home in Beaver Creek, Minnesota at the age of 73 years and eight months.

Allen was a quiet and simple person, but always enjoyed having a good conversation with those he knew. Many of those he knew well often referred to him as “Cowboy” as he was seldom seen without wearing his cowboy hat. He was an avid fan of NASCAR and the Denver Broncos.

Allen is survived by three children, Joe Doorneweerd of Brandon, South Dakota, Ali Doorneweerd of Tea, South Dakota, Jo Lynn Doorneweerd of Las Vegas; two step-sons, Edward Taggart of Las Vegas and Fred Taggart of Emmett, Idaho; four siblings, Doris (Daniel) Banks of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mary (Lyle) Claussen of Beatrice, Nebraska, Lila (Rick) Tatge of Beaver Creek, Minnesota and Kimberly Messner of Winthrop, Minnesota; grandchildren, Dylan Doorneweerd, Jacob Doorneweerd, Payton Kruse, Jacob (Jessica) Taggart, Logan Taggart, Lance Taggart; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Joe Messner; step-son, Lance Petersen; and grandson, Preston Allen Doorneweerd.