Shennan Lee Solze passed away peacefully on March 29, 2026, with family by her side.  She was born in Canon City, Colorado on August 28, 1948 to Earl and Waunita Simon.

Shennan spent most of her early life traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents, a lifestyle that fostered her love for horses and barrel racing.  Her family eventually settled in Limon, Colorado where she finished out her school years. During this time, she met Chris Solze. The couple became engaged in 1967, prior to Chris’s military deployment to Vietnam. Two years later, shortly after his return, they were united in marriage on August 16, 1969 at the Lutheran Church in Genoa.

Shortly after their marriage, Chris’s military service brought them to Kyushu Air Force base in Japan, where they lived for 2 years. Shennan spent her days teaching English slang to local Japanese girls, and together they enjoyed time at the beach and swimming.

After leaving Japan, the couple settled back in Limon where they purchased a property across the road from Shennan’s parents. Earl and Waunita had an arena where Shennan could continue her passion for riding and even taught Chris to ride so he could “keep up with her family”.

On December 5, 1973, they welcomed their only child, Jess. In the years that followed, Shennan dedicated herself to her family while also serving as an EMT with the Limon Ambulance, working as a nurse’s aide at a local nursing home, and later at the Limon School cafeteria. Above all, she devoted herself to her role as wife, mother, and homemaker.

Shennan was a loyal supporter of those she loved and the things that they loved. She joined Chris in his dirt bike riding adventures during Jess’s early years and later traveled to support Jess in his trap shooting competitions. Summers were often spent in Grand Junction, where Chris’s work took him. Their days were spent at the KOA swimming pool where Shennan taught Jess to swim and later, they all enjoyed roping and riding with new friends they made while there.

Shennan was so good with horses that she would break the hard ones for Chris and Jess and fix the ones they couldn’t fix. She would leg them all up while they were away at work during the day. She even tried to use some of the rope horses to run barrels with until she was told to get off because “good horses are hard to find”.

In the fall of 1998, Shennan and her family moved to Hugo, where they built a home, horse barns, and an arena of their own. From there, Shennan continued riding with Chris and Jess for several years until she stepped back to run the roping chute. In her later years, Shennan found enjoyment in the arts and crafts, particularly painting. She also enjoyed planting and caring for the flowers in her front yard.

Shennan will be remembered for her loyalty and deep devotion to her family and friends.

Shennan was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Waunita Simon, and her sisters Janet and Cindy.

She is survived by her husband, Chris Solze, her son Jess (and Mary) Solze, and grandchildren Ally and Kade.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Hugo Fire Department; Box 85; Hugo, CO  80821.