Obituary of Agnete "Nete" Cohen

Agnete Cohen, nee Agnete Zerlang, 95, passed away at home in Denver, CO, on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Agnete, daughter of Asta and Leon Zerlang, grew up in Denmark, where she studied nursing. Due to an injury sustained while nursing, she transitioned to working in a library. She moved to Germany and worked on a US military base. A supervisor captured her positive, can-do attitude when he wrote in a letter of recommendation, “Agnete never hesitated or complained.”

In Germany, Agnete met the love of her life, Phillip Cohen, a captain in the US Army. Although he returned to the United States without her, they engaged in an 18-month, long-distance, air-mail love affair culminating in their marriage on November 17, 1959.

Agnete raised three children in their Sloan’s Lake home, Basha, Elisa, and David. She was renowned for her delicious meals, set on beautiful tables, with engaging conversation. She maintained close connections to her family in Denmark by spending several months every other year visiting her friends and family.

Outside of the home, Agnete worked as a professional potter with Castle Clay Artists. She focused on functional pottery using both wheel and handbuilding techniques. She was a respected artist in the Denver community.

She is survived by children Basha Cohen (Jim Walsh), Elisa Cohen (Peter Bunch), and David Cohen (Debbie Cohen). Also grandchildren, Jessica Cohen, Mariasha DiBenedetto (Nicholas), Zaya Bunch, and Shaina Walsh. She has two great-grandchildren, Enzo and Ripley DiBenedetto.

Chapel Service, Monday January 19th, 1:00pm, Hebrew Education Alliance with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Livestream will be available via Feldman Mortuary's YouTube channel. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Denver Rescue Mission, the ACLU, or North Side High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation (℅ North High School, 2960 N. Speer Blvd., Denver, CO 80211)