WESTMINSTER - A grieving stepfather choked back tears Thursday as he recalled the quick smile and bright blue eyes of a 19-year-old daughter allegedly killed by a man investigators say was drunk at the wheel.

Jennifer Kois, of Brighton, and her boyfriend, Jacob Brock, of Eagle, both freshmen at Mesa State College, were killed March 22 when Patrick Strawmatt, a former Lafayette police officer who was fleeing from a state trooper, slammed his sport utility vehicle into the compact car carrying the students on Interstate 70 near Clifton, according to investigators.

Strawmatt allegedly was traveling at speeds up to 120 mph and driving erratically as he tried to outdistance a pursuing trooper who had attempted to stop him, police said.

Strawmatt is being held on $1 million bail in Mesa County Jail and could be charged with first- degree murder as well as vehicular homicide in the deaths of the two students.

Kois' stepfather, Peter VonFeldt, looked to the sky and murmured, "I love you, sweetheart," before telling her grieving friends and family that he "could stand up here for months, years, talking about Jenny."

VonFeldt reminded those who gathered at St. Mark Catholic Church of her love for them, her constant smile and her blue eyes.

Even after an argument, he asked, "Who could stay mad at her with those blue eyes? That's why her nickname was always 'Bright Eyes.' "

And VonFeldt spoke of Kois' feelings for Brock, who was buried in Eagle on Wednesday.

"She told us on spring break that she had found the love of her life," he said. "She died with the love of her life."

Kois' stepfather took the opportunity to warn her young friends of the consequence of drunken driving, urging them to help stem the tragic toll taken by intoxicated motorists.

"I will fight for you," he said. "I will stand up and try to make sure this doesn't happen to anybody again."

Many of those who attended Thursday's funeral Mass wore purple, Kois' favorite color, and chuckled as VonFeldt recalled how she and her mother, Liane VonFeldt, recently filled an entire day carefully placing her collection of stuffed Tiggers around her newly purple-painted room.

But few could turn back the tears as VonFeldt again turned his gaze skyward and said: "Well, sweetheart, you were the best in the world. I love you, baby, I will love you forever and a day."

Kois is survived by her parents; a sister, Jamie Kois; grandparents Norman and Linda Speaker, of Sterling, and Edwin and Phyllis VonFeldt, of Northglenn, and Katherine Kois; and a number of aunts and uncles.

Her father, Terry Kois, died in 2002.

Words from Jennifer

Copies of a poem written by Jennifer Kois were given to those attending her funeral Mass.

Jennifer

I am who I am

A nice little girl

A little girl at heart

Quiet and small

Having a good time

Helping people out

Always making people laugh

Here to talk

Making the best of everything

Making things better

Being a total dork

And We Are Whole

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