Obituary of Abdul Habib Khaliqi

Abdul Habib Khaliqi, 89, of Ordway, Colorado passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Penrose St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Habib was born on January 18,1930, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He graduated from Kabul University with a degree from the College of Law and started working for the government of Afghanistan. He received an opportunity to study at the American University of Beirut and eventually earned a Master's degree in Public Administration and Economics. It was while attending AUB that he met his future wife, Virginia Paul, an American missionary nurse from Colorado who was teaching at AUB. It would be in these crucial years of Habib's life that he would come to an understanding of the gospel and would accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. Habib and Virginia were married on March 25, 1962 in Afghanistan where he continued to fill several influential posts with the Afghan government including serving as provincial governor of Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. His family returned to the United States while he served as an officer in the Afghan army from 1966 to 1968. He permanently immigrated to the U.S. at the end of 1968. Habib became a United States citizen in 1973. Upon arrival in the U.S., Habib briefly worked as a training officer with the Peace Corp. In 1970 he and his family moved to Ordway, Colorado where Habib assumed the position of Executive Director at Crowley County Nursing Home. He continued in this capacity for 25 years until he retired on October 4, 1995. During these years, Habib proved to be an influential leader in his community. His desire to support working families lead to the opening of a daycare and preschool for nursing home employees which exemplified his forward-thinking leadership. In 1997, Habib and Virginia pursued an opportunity to live and serve in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan working with predominantly Afghan refugees teaching English and nursing while also supporting local churches and orphanages. During this time in his life Habib and Virginia facilitated the adoption of two of their grandchildren. They returned to the states in 2006, due to Virginia's health. After her death on, May 12, 2006, Habib moved to Montana where he lived with his son, Tamim until 2010 and then moved back to Colorado Springs where he lived out his remaining nine years with his son, David. If you ever spent time with Habib, you would have known that he was a man full of great stories and adventures. He had a warm, yet goofy personality and cared deeply for his wife, family, and his Heavenly Father. He loved to start a good debate with anyone nearby. Joseph Pieri, his granddaughter's husband remarked, "I loved how the first conversation I had with him was a discussion on the Trinity, Farsi, and chess." Habib was a lifelong learner, and his desire for learning spread to his children as well as his grandchildren. By the end of his life he could speak five different languages. His love of music drove him to teach himself to play the guitar and the dulcimer. Anyone who played against him knew that he was a master of the game of chess. He also loved to spoil his grandkids. Occasionally, he would pile his grandkids into his Ford Explorer for a burger and milkshake.Although Habib (Baba or Grandpa as he was commonly known and called by his grandchildren) did not consider his life unique in any way, his life has influenced countless people and will continue to impact future generations. He was a hardworking, humble man who regularly sacrificed his own comfort and needs for those of his family and friends. It's hard to face the reality of no longer being able to sit on his lap and hear him tell great stories from his childhood in Afghanistan, listen to him recount the endless adventures he had with Babo (Grandma) while traveling abroad, or experience the excitement of playing games when he would visit. His son, Tamim, remembers Habib's last words to his wife, Virginia, "Thank you for introducing me to Jesus." It is with these words our family takes comfort that we will once again see Habib in Heaven where there will be no more tears but rather the constant joy of being together in the presence of Jesus Christ. Habib is survived by his three children, a son, Dr. Tamim (Cheryl) Khaliqi of New Hartford, New York; a daughter, Zohra (David) Gutierrez of Alpharetta Georgia; a son, Dr. David (Jill) Khaliqi of Colorado Springs Colorado; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial Service, 2:00PM, Saturday, April 20, 2019,The Springs Funeral Services-North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80923. Interment will take place during a private family service at Valley View Cemetery in Rocky Ford, Colorado.In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Habib's memory to the Green Village Schools Project at www.greenvillageschools.ngo-donate Events Memorial Service Saturday, April 20, 2019 2:00PM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611