Kenneth Kirkpatrick

Kenneth J. Kirkpatrick was called to his Heavenly home on September 6, 2011. Ken was born to Merle and Dora (Williams) Kirkpatrick on November 17, 1926 at Washta, Iowa and was the second of three sons. his childhood was spent on the family farm south of Washta until his father joined the Iowa Highway Patrol in 1937 and the family moved to Denison, Iowa. In January of 1939 they moved to Sheldon, Iowa. After completing his public schooling in Sheldon he enrolled in Sheldon Junior College where he played football. His parents divorced in 1942 and then Ken moved to Los Angeles, CA to live with his uncle Wayne Kirkpatrick. He worked at various companies including Lockheed Aircraft. On April 4, 1944 at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the United States Navy and completed his training in San Diego, CA. Ken served on six ships during World War II and saw extensive action in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged from the navy on May 22, 1946. Ken returned to Sheldon, Iowa and then in early 1947 met Dorothy L. Morse whom he married on July 3, 1947. Prior to their marriage Ken was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC. After a few months Ken was transferred to Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. His outfit was responsible for honor and color guard duties at Arlington National Cemetery. While stationed at Ft. McNair their first son Wayne was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital on January 10, 1948. Ken was honorably discharged from the Army on November 26, 1948. Ken, Dorothy, and Wayne moved to Sheldon and Ken took up farming. He farmed his mother-in-law’s property for approximately a year and a half. Their second son Claire was born in Sheldon on January 27, 1949. Upon leaving the farm he joined the Iowa Highway Patrol on May 1, 1950. As a patrolman he was stationed in Denison and Onawa, Iowa. After his tenure with the Iowa Highway Patrol Ken turned to Federal Law Enforcement by being accepted into the United States Border Patrol, the uniformed enforcement branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) on June 15, 1955. He attended the USBP Academy in El Paso, TX as a member of the 61st Session. Ken’s duty stations were Ft. Stockton, TX, Presidio, TX, Sweetgrass, MT, and Browning, MT. He continued his career with the INS by becoming a Criminal Investigator in Chicago, IL. In July of 1962 he transferred to Denver, CO and was promoted to Supervisory Criminal Investigator. Ken retired from the INS on May 16, 1980 with twenty-five years of federal law enforcement. Ken’s interests revolved around owning and riding horses and he was a member of the El Jebel Shrine’s Drovers and Mountainmen. He also was an active member of the Roundup Riders of the Rockies for many years. Ken was a Mason and a member of Golden Lodge #1. He was also active with the Old Goats. Kenneth J. Kirkpatrick was preceded in death by his parents, and his younger brother Karol. he is survived by his wife of 64 years Dorothy of Lakewood, his sons Wayne and wife June of Owasso, OK, Claire and wife Linda of Rio Rancho, NM, grandson Kyle of Denver, his great-grandson Drake Riste of Loveland, and his brother Keith of Des Moines, IA. A memorial service for Kenneth J Kirkpatrick will be held on Friday, September 9, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 1899 S Irving St Denver, CO 80219. A military memorial service will foll ow at 3:15 p.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area C, Denver Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s name may be made to either Shriner’s Hospitals contact El Jebel Shrine 4625 W 50th Ave, Denver, CO 80212 (303)955-3470 or Colorado Horse Care Food Bank 5178 S Elkridge Rd Evergreen, CO 80439