Don Schierling - Brothers Redevelopment

Throughout his life, Brothers Redevelopment Founder Don Schierling spent many summers driving around the metro area ensuring that Paint-A-Thon projects were going smoothly.

So, it was only right that a day ahead of his memorial service — an event that was delayed five months after his death because of the pandemic — that his family and friends volunteered for their own Paint-A-Thon project.

Dressed in purple Paint-A-Thon shirts to honor Alzheimer’s victims like Schierling and his wife Elvira, Schierling’s loved ones gathered for a day of service to paint the exterior of Dorothy Jokumnsen’s Westminster home and to do yard work in July. The project was one of 84 houses the Paint-A-Thon Program has painted as of Sept. 16.

“Don and Elvira’s legacy of service was alive and well during our Paint-A-Thon project. You could feel them smiling from above as we worked together painting and sprucing up the yard,” said Evon Holiday, a family friend of the Schierling’s. “It was such a fitting way to celebrate their lives and Don’s dedication to Brothers Redevelopment.”

Schierling passed away in February at the age of 86, 50 years after him, Richard Magnus, Joe Giron and Manny Martinez established Brothers Redevelopment. He spent more than 40 years serving as a board member for the organization and was recognized for model Christian stewardship through the 2020 National Journey Award presented by faith based financial services organization Everence.

Outside of his work serving the region’s low-income residents and seniors through Brothers, Schierling taught at Regis University Business School, built houses in areas of Germany that were impacted by World War II and held a role with International Development Enterprises — a nonprofit that encourages self-sufficiency in Africa, Asia and Central America.

The Schierling family also donated a wheelchair lift to Brothers earlier this summer that was used by Schierling and Elvira. The item will be donated to a client in need and installed for them at no charge by Brothers’ Home Modification and Repair Program.

“It felt good, and it felt right to do the Paint-A-Thon in memory of mom and dad,” said Sonja Schierling, the daughter of Schierling and Elvira. “Giving back to others is who they were and what they taught all of those who knew them. It was a perfect way to honor them, especially the weekend of their celebration of life.”

Around seven years ago, the Schierling family woke up to a shocking and horrifying situation when Elvira Schierling — the wife of Brothers Redevelopment founder Don Schierling — suddenly forgot how to walk.

“She had dementia. She literally woke up one morning and was doing this side shuffle,” said Sonja Schierling, Don and Elvira’s daughter. “I was like okay, what’s going on?”

The Schierling house is two stories tall, and Elvira wouldn’t have had a way to enter the home until the family purchased a wheelchair lift that her and Don used until their last days. When Don passed in February, the lift sat unused at the house. But just like the Schierling’s have done for decades, they thought of others in need and Brothers Redevelopment while the lift was unused.

The Schierling family donated the lift to Brothers Redevelopment’s Home Modification and Repair Program who will give the item to a client in need and install it for them at no charge. The program serves seniors across the Front Range by providing free, high quality home safety related repairs and mobility/accessibility modifications.

On June 15, employees from the program went to the Schierling house to pick up the lift that will be stored until it can be placed and installed.

“We are humbled and honored to have been approached by the Schierling family as the recipient of such a generous and impactful donation. This Vertical Platform Lift that allowed our late founder Don Schierling and his late wife to access their home with safety and independence will now go to another household in need,” said Home Modification and Repair Program Manager Jason McCullough.

“This will allow someone who is at this moment wrestling with limited or declining mobility the freedom of access to and from their home with ease and comfort. We will use this donation to further the mission of Brothers Redevelopment and continue the good work Don was so passionate about throughout his lifetime of service,” he added.

Earlier this year, the Schierling family also donated a vehicle that is being used by Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program — a longstanding free service that sees volunteers paint the outside of homes for senior and disabled homeowners.

“These donations would’ve made (Don) so happy and proud. This is what dad wanted — anything to help Brothers,” said Sonja.

Schierling family volunteers for Paint-A-Thon in honor of Brothers Redevelopment founder

Schierling family donates wheelchair lift to Brothers