Pamela Joy (Popke) Bult passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Lafayette, CO on June 18, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by the loving presence of her children and grandchildren during her final days. She was 71 years old.Pam was born in New London, WI to Joyce and LaVerne Popke on December 10, 1951. She enjoyed a nature-filled upbringing on her parent's farm, with some of her favorite activities including fishing with her grandfather, raising horses and rabbits, rescuing wild animals, befriending the farm animals, gardening, and participating in 4-H. She always took a special interest in animals. Story has it that she even snuck an orphaned fawn into her room on one occasion. After spending her grade school years at the country school, she attended New London High School, then continued her education over the coming years at Herzing University, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Madison. Her areas of study included computers, art, business, and real estate. In 1972, she married Ben Bult. They raised three children together in their shared hometown of New London, on a farm that had been previously owned by Pam's great-aunt. Her great-aunt was a beloved grandmother figure to her, and Pam had spent much time on this farm growing up as a child. The years of raising her kids on this farm, just down the road from her parents, surrounded by horses, a prolific garden, and boundless time outdoors, were some of her favorite years. She and Ben ultimately divorced in 1986, at which time she left New London for the opportunities available in Madison, WI. There she worked full time, while also raising her children as a single mother, and completed her undergraduate degree at the UW-Madison in 1994. True to form, she built a raised garden bed in the yard of her home in the suburbs of Madison, and a family of wild bunnies promptly moved in. By 2000, two of her children had relocated to Colorado. Pam had fond memories of Colorado from a trip she'd taken there as a teenager. So she made the decision to move there and begin a new chapter in her life. She began working for United Airlines, and enjoyed many trips with the flight benefits the job provided, as well as camping adventures in the mountains with her children. During her frequent trips back and forth between Wisconsin and Colorado, her suitcase often filled with cheese at the request of her Colorado co-workers, she was fondly given the nickname "the cheese lady". As the years went by, she developed a relationship with childhood friend, David Winkler. Pam returned to Wisconsin to care for her aging parents, and to enjoy more time with David, but she always maintained a regular presence in Colorado. Wherever she lived, she was happiest with a house project to tackle, getting her hands in the dirt, baking her legendary pies, or spending time with her children and grandchildren. Whether it was training horses, cutting down trees for a winter's worth of firewood, doing endless DIY home renovations, creative artistic endeavors, or selflessly caring for so many of those around her, she could always be found keeping busy, even as her illness took its toll. When asked about her proudest accomplishment, though, she would always say it's her children. She was a tenacious survivor, demonstrating never-ending grit in the face of whatever life handed her, while remaining kind and optimistic at heart.

Pam is survived by her children: Nicki (Bret) Lamprecht, Lafayette, CO; Lisa Bult, Denver, CO; and Justin (Ariadne Lie) Bult, Fremont, CA; and grandchildren: Avery, Sophia, Beckett, Emerson, Ophelia, and Atticus. She is also survived by her siblings: Daryl (Judy) Popke, Vicki (Fred) Metzig, Penni Popke, and Randy Popke; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved puppy, Bailey, who has been rehomed within the family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joyce and LaVerne Popke; ex-husband, Ben Bult; and long time special friend, David Winkler.

At Pam's request, there will be no funeral or memorial services. You are invited to privately celebrate her memory in your own way. She will be with us all in spirit, especially if there are any horses involved. Donations in her honor may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Fund at https://give.bcrf.org/fundraiser/4777482, or 4-H at https://4-h.org/.