- Date Of Birth: April 5, 1930
- Date Of Death: June 17, 2021
- State: Colorado
Colorado sadly lost a pioneer family member on June 17th 2021 when Joanne Little O’Kane, born in Denver on April 5, 1930, passed away peacefully. She is the great granddaughter of David and Adelaide Hart who arrived in Denver in April of 1870. David Hart served as the Arapahoe County Treasurer (now Denver County) in the 1880’s and 90’s. Joanne is the granddaughter of David and Adelaide Hart’s daughter Marion and George Cottrell, founder of the Cottrell Clothing Company (1893-1994 Denver CO) and the daughter of Joseph Francis and M. Jane Cottrell Little.
Joanne grew up in a life of agriculture, business, mining, law, politics and philanthropy. When David Hart retired as Arapahoe County Treasurer, he started the Brookridge Dairy (located where the Brookridge Shopping Center is located at Broadway and Belleview). In her early childhood, Joanne spent time here with David, her great uncle, Fred Hart and the Guernsey milk cows. Her grandmother, Marian Hart, married George Cottrell of the Cottrell Clothing Company, founded in downtown Denver in 1893. As a teenager, and after graduating Denver University School of Business Suma Cum Laude in 1952, she worked at the Cottrell’s Clothing store, eventually being appointed to the Board of Directors. Her father, Joseph F. Little, a prominent Denver lawyer, mine owner and Democrat State Chairman in the 1950’s and early 60’s introduced her to her future husband Bernard P. O’Kane of Lakewood CO. Barney O’Kane was the CO District attorney for Arapahoe, Douglas, Adams, Jefferson, and Gilpin Counties at the time. Barney and Joanne were married in 1959 and very soon after purchased the O’Kane Farm located northwest of Arvada Colorado returning her to her true love – animal husbandry – nurtured in her early childhood by her great uncle Fred Hart and great grandfather David Hart.
While raising 4 children on the farm, Mrs. O’Kane became very active in agriculture in CO, raising registered Angus beef cows, registered Guernsey milk cows, registered Duroc hogs, along with many other livestock. She served as President of the Colorado Guernsey Association and President of the Colorado Angus Association, being named as a Colorado Angus Association Pioneer of the year, and Promoter of the year.
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Mrs. O’Kane is survived by her four children and their spouses: Pat O’Kane (Kathryn), Sean O’Kane (Coelene), Kevin O’Kane (Jean) and Kelly Krapes (Jim).
19 grandchildren and spouses: Meghan (Juan) Rosete, Brittany (Mark) Betzen, Devon O’Kane, Bryant (Kaci) O’Kane, Michael O’Kane, Patrick (Lawaunta) O’Kane, Dyann (Raymundo) Pimentel, Bridget (Daniel) Craig, Kyle (Stephanie) O’Kane, Shelagh (Hayden) Flesch, Sean O’Kane, Conall O’Kane, Aislinn O’Kane, Benjamin Krapes, Sarah (Samuel) Wigand, Emily (Thomas) Brown, Isaac Krapes, Vincent Krapes, Gabriel Krapes.
21 Great grandchildren: Aurora Rosete, Emmalynn Betzen, Blake Anne O’Kane, Benjamin O’Kane, Sarah O’Kane, Jayda O’Kane, Canaan O’Kane, Brianna Pimentel, Raymond Joseph Pimentel, Joshua Pimentel, Aaliyah Craig, Stetson Craig, Westlynn Craig, Elijah Craig, Emmilene Craig, Julianna O’Kane, Heston O’Kane, and Emery Brown, and three more great grandchildren due this coming year.
Mrs. O’Kane is also survived by her-brother-in law, Michael Reardon, and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard P. O’Kane; parents, Joseph F. and M. Jane Little; two sisters, Marion Reardon and Elizabeth Starbuck, and one brother, David C Little.
Her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with, and those many who never met her, but were recipients of her charity.
Rosary: Thursday, June 24th 2021, 7:00pm at St.
