David Earl Riffle

April 25, 1972 - April 26, 2013 David “Poppie” Earl Riffle of Highlands Ranch, CO and Gridley, KS passed away quietly and without pain at sunrise on April 26, 2013 following a long battle with B-cell Lymphoma. He passed away in the next best thing to home, The Denver Hospice, with his Partner of 16 years at his bedside. David is survived by his Partner, best friend and love of his life, Darin Raaf and their loyal Flat-coat Spaniel, Durango Chinook Riffle-Raaf of the home. He is also survived and will be missed greatly by his Mother, Gail Earlene Marsha Riffle of Aurora, CO, his Father, John Warner Riffle, of Arizona, his Father-in-law, Gary Raaf and his Mother-in-law, Charlene Raaf of Gridley, KS, his brother, Jack and his wife Elizabeth, niece Bella and nephew Brennan of Baton Rouge, LA, his Sister, Marsha Henry and her husband Kevin and nephews Pierson and Nathan of Englewood, CO, his half-brother Travis Riffle and girlfriend, Jodi Ashley of Oberlin, KS and his Sister-in-law Luanne Raaf Lee and her husband Chris and nieces Avery and Katelyn of Quinter, KS, as well as David's “other” sister, Liane Bennett, lifelong childhood friend. David was preceded in death by his Maternal and Paternal Grandparents and his angel Cocker Spaniel, Weezer Boudreaux Raaf-Riffle. David was born April 25, 1972 in Denver, CO, lived a majority of his life in Aurora, where he attended Fulton Elementary and Aurora Central High School. David attended Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO and Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. David was a successful Property Manager specializing in turning around poor performing properties in the Self-Storage business and managed large properties in Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka, KS for Public Storage and Wichita and Aurora, CO properties for Security Self Storage. When not working, David was a public speaker and political activist and was a consummate story-teller and living room comedian. He never met a person whom he could not either make laugh or completely offend. David's biggest passion, however, was his love for Gary and Charlene Raaf's farm in Gridley, KS. He once described it as the only place he could experience total peace. On a clear night, regardless of temperature, David could be found standing outside the house starring into the star-filled skies, slack-jawed, marveling at it all. He loved the rolling flint hills, tree-lined streams and the opportunities to drive tractors and mowers and any other adult “toy” he could find. He was passionate about conservation and co-existence with the land, farm-to-table food and ways to live a simple uncomplicated life. David will be cremated with his ashes spread at the Grand Canyon, in the Colorado Mountains and on the farm in Gridley, KS with the remainder to be interned at the Gridley City Cemetery in Gridley, Kansas. Celebrations of David's life are being planned and will be announced in the future by Malesich and Shirley Funeral Home and Colorado Crematory of Arvada. The family asks that in lieu of cards or flowers or other memorials or tributes, that a donation be made to The Denver Hospice, 501 S Cherry Street, #700, Denver, CO 80246 in David's name in order to purchase additional music used by the Player Grand Piano.