Sept-Oct2020 Issue

wanted me to get more physical activity, so they took me climbing.” Since then, he has climbed mountains world- wide. “I’ve climbed in Nepal with Mike. We climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I went to Peru and climbed in the Andes. Mountain climbing is really an exhilaration. You really do feel as if you’re on top of the world.” Duane and Betty’s life changed, though, when her health began to decline. “First it was dementia, then it reached a point where her physical needs changed, with a variety of symptoms,” he recalls. “It got very expensive. She was in the hospital for 45 days, and the bill was three quarters of a million dollars. That really hurt the bank account. We got together with our financial adviser and went over our options.” The adviser suggested a reverse mortgage and referred them to Don Opeka, president of Orion Mortgage, which is just north in Broomfield, CO. They compared a reverse mortgage to taking early withdrawals from annuities. After factoring in taxes and penalties, the reverse mortgage was a more attractive way to fund the care. “Don and I are both men of faith, so that bonded us even more,” Duane says. “He went over all the aspects of our life and finances. He explained everything, and it made sense. Don gets a lot of referrals from people who are treated fairly and squarely. Arvada is a close-knit community, with one of the highest volunteer rates in the country. Communicating with people and looking out for the other guy is No. 1. It pays a lot of dividends.” He and Don are friends who talk and see each other regularly. “You don’t have to look far to find good people,” Duane states. Betty passed away on Aug. 4, 2017. Duane wanted to continue living in the house they had shared. As life went on for him, Duane became friendly with a lady in the neighborhood, a retired Episcopalian pastor who had lost her husband. They started dating. Duane also has time to pursue some of his other pas- sions, including reading, studying and archiving. He is an amateur historian of World War II. He continues his volunteer activities and participation in the church. His sons Mike, who works for Lockheed Martin, and Kelly, a contractor to Xcel Energy, and their families live close by, so Duane is involved in his grandchildren’s lives. Recently, their contact has been primarily through Skype due to COVID-19’s physical distancing demands. “There are so many activities that I have a full day,” he comments. “The Lord’s been good to me.” Looking both backward and forward, Duane articulates the philosophy he has always lived. “Nothing is handed to you,” he says. “It’s what you make of yourself.” Borrower Chronicles REVERSE MORTGAGE / SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 33