Kenneth Kenny Casper Obituary

Description: Kenneth "Kenny" Casper Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences To His Loved Ones...

February 18th, 1950 - June 7th, 2025

Obituary

Where does one begin sharing a lifetime of one who loved his family, farming, inventing, building, nature, fishing, street rods, and most of all living in the Arkansas Valley, knowing everyone.

It all started 75 years ago, the second of five children born to Paul and Bonnie Casper of La Junta, Colorado.

Kenny Neal Casper grew up in North La Junta and graduated from La Junta high school in 1969. During those years he spent most of his time with his grandpa Rooks on the ranch east of Holbrook Lake, which eventually became Kenny's homestead of 44 years. Five generations enjoyed that ranch and called it home, or “Papa and CC's place”.

After high school GMC sent Kenny to school for motor mechanics. He then moved to Greeley, Colorado and worked in high rise construction where, due to his attention to detail and precision, he was mentored to learn concrete finish work. To this day he would cringe when he saw mediocre concrete projects. His reputation preceded him as one of the best finishers, which led him to enjoy volunteering his time and expertise in helping others with their concrete projects.

Missing rural life, Kenny moved back home to La Junta. He worked at Co-Op, training in a chemical apprenticeship program, delivering supplies to ranchers in the Red River Canyon by the Purgatory River area. He loved visiting the ranchers and listening to their stories more than working. He knew them all and they loved him and his visits. The last career move was in 1979 when Kenny went to the Santa Fe Railroad's engineering school in Chicago. He retired in 2010 after 30 years as an engineer.

After moving back to the valley, Kenny met and fell in love with a traveling nurse from Florida who was on assignment with AVRMC in La Junta- the rest is history. They raised three children ALL who acquired Kenny's building mind, knowledge, and strong work ethic.

His passions in life were raising cattle and goats, farming the land, and he thoroughly enjoyed fishing, street rod shows, and working in his shop, which his wife lovingly called, "The Testosterone Shop." That shop was always filled with friends, people needing his expertise, or Kenny himself working on some type of unique invention.

He will be truly missed by so many, because if he didn't know an answer to someone's shop problem, he knew a person who would. He was a true valley resource.

He is leaving behind his wife Chris of 40 years, daughter Kelly Bunce (Johnny), sons Kyle Casper (Shelby) and Kevin Casper (Nicki), five grandchildren, sisters Crystal Dutton (Donny) and Donna Casper (Rich) and many nephews, one niece, and sister-in-law Becky Casper.

Per Kenny's request, there will be a private memorial service. Bellwood Ustick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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