Stephanie Rae Lamatsch, age 50, of Elbert, Colo., since 2006, passed away Sept. 12 at Pikes Peak Hospice after a courageous battle with melanoma cancer. As a dedicated Air Force wife, she followed her husband all over the country. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter and sister and enjoyed years of service with her fellow lunch ladies in the D 49 School District.Stephanie was a high school band mother, active in the Sand Creek High School Marching Band Boosters. She loved music, partying with her girlfriends and caring for her affectionate cats.Stephanie Rae Smith was born Dec. 25, 1961, in Akron, Ohio. She married Peter Jacob Lamatsch March 28, 1987, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.She is survived by her husband, Maj. Peter J. Lamatsch, USAF (retired) of Elbert; her son, Aaron M. Lamatsch of Elbert; her parents, Tim and Judy Smith of Beavercreek; her sister, Cindy (Jim) Ballmann of Beavercreek; and her niece, Ashley Ballmann of Beavercreek. She was preceded in death by her sister, Stacey Smith.A celebration of her life was held Sept. 18 at the Shrine of Remembrance ìAmerica the Beautifulî Chapel.Memorials in Stephanieís name can be made to the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, the Penrose Hospital Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, the Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora or the Melanoma Research Foundation. Online condolences: http://ShrineOfRemembrance.com
