Lyman Louis Kaiser

Lyman Louis Kaiser, age 86, went to be with his Lord on Monday, April 28, 2025 at Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs with family and friends by his side. A forty-year resident of Colorado Springs, Lyman loved his many travel adventures with his family, always with his camera in his hand. Lyman was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Lyman was born on a farm near Greenridge, MO on December 16, 1938 to Martha and Erhardt Kaiser. He graduated from the University of Missouri with bachelor of science degrees in Agriculture Engineering from the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture in 1961. It was also at the University that he met Carolyn, his wife of 56 years.

Entering the US Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Missouri, Lyman was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1961. He was first assigned to the Air Force Institute of Technology to complete a one-year training program in Meteorology at the University of Texas. After attending graduate meteorology training at the University of Arizona, he was assigned to the Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, Solar Observatory as a Detachment Solar Astronomer. There he served as a member of the first Air Weather Service Space Environmental Support System (SESS) Contingency and helped install the initial Raydow WS-250-1A Hydrogen Alpha optical telescope for solar flare patrol. While stationed in Yokota, Japan, Lyman served as the primary US military representative for meteorological affairs to the civilian Japan Meteorological Agency and to the Japan Air Self Defense Force Air Weather Service Group. In this position he supported deployment of US forces to Korea in response to the North Korean “Tree Cutting” incident in 1976, collaborated with the Navy to obtain the first regular Air Force receipt of Japanese geostationary meteorological satellite data in 1977, and supported Cope Eagle, the first operational exercise deployment of F-15’s in Japan. He attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, AL, in 1968 and Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA in 1972. He graduated from Air War College in 1981 through correspondence. At the end of his career, Lyman was Chief at the Air Force Space Command Liaison Branch, Headquarters Fourth Weather Wing at Peterson AFB. Lyman retired from the Air Force after a 25-year career in 1986 as a Lt Colonel.

After leaving the Air Force, Lyman enjoyed another 25-year career as a civilian contractor with Unisys, Allied Signal, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin in Space Systems Management. He received his Master of Arts in Computer and Information Resources Management and Space Systems Management from Webster University in St. Louis, MO in 1990.

Lyman found his greatest fulfilment in his decades of service to School District 11 in Colorado Springs. His passion for students, and seeing them succeed was evident in all the ways he supported District 11 through his time on the Board of Education (1994-2003) and the numerous committees he chaired or participated in over the years. He was instrumental in writing and revising almost every Board policy, increasing community/parent participation at the school and district level through his work with the District Accountability Committee (DAC) and the School Accountability Committees (SACs), reviewing and giving input on budgets, construction projects, curriculum, building capacity and more.

Continuing his passion for education and his dedication to the Lutheran Church, he was an avid supporter of the Holy Cross Lutheran School both as a donor and advisor. Lyman was also a long-time supporter of Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s Honduras missionary program and Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain.

Lyman is survived by his three children, Michael (Michel Ann), Vincent (Elaine), and Amy (Jeff Pendarvis); his seven grandchildren, Erika, Megan, Quinton, Dalton, Ella, Burton & George; his three great-grandchildren, Isaac, Andrew, and Elizabeth; and his sister, Fran Durow.

Lyman was preceded in death by his parents, Martha & Erhardt Kaiser, his brother, Floyd Kaiser and his wife Carolyn.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4125 Constitution Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 with a reception to follow.