Obituary for Kenton DeWayne Skeels
Kenton DeWayne Skeels was born on July 20, 1938 in Concordia, Kansas to Kenneth and Lydia Skeels. He enrolled in the Marine Corps shortly after his graduation from Concordia High School, proudly serving in both California and Hawaii before returning to Kansas to marry Arlene Marie Breault on February 24, 1962.
Kenton worked in broadcasting for most of his career, first as a DJ and later in sales management. His career took him from Concordia to Hays and, in 1969, to Loveland, Colorado where he and Arlene raised their daughter Stacy. Kenton converted to Catholicism in 1982 and proudly sang in the St. John the Evangelist choir until Kenton and Arlene moved to Broomfield in 2005 to be closer to their grandchildren.
Kenton was creative and talented. He had a beautiful singing voice, was a wildly good artist and passed along his love of writing to his daughter and grandchildren. He adored our Colorado mountains, fell in love with every dog he saw and tried to get a smile out of every baby who passed by. He was incredibly proud. He was proud of his Marine service. He was proud to tell everyone that he and Arlene had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, and he was incredibly proud of Noah and Julia, his grandchildren who he adored. Together, Grandma and Papa attended every soccer game, school performance, dance recital, graduation, holiday and birthday dinner. He didn’t miss a moment of their lives and our little family of six now has a big hole.
Kenton passed away peacefully after a short illness on September 3, 2022 surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Karen. He is survived by his wife Arlene; daughter Stacy Baum, son-in-law Michael, grandchildren, Noah and Julia; twin brother Kenneth (Rosie); and 13 nieces and nephews who adored their “Uncle Ski".
A rosary (10:30am) and funeral Mass (11am) will be celebrated at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado on September 14, 2022. Donations can be made in Kenton’s honor to Catholic Charities of Denver.
Kenton worked in broadcasting for most of his career, first as a DJ and later in sales management. His career took him from Concordia to Hays and, in 1969, to Loveland, Colorado where he and Arlene raised their daughter Stacy. Kenton converted to Catholicism in 1982 and proudly sang in the St. John the Evangelist choir until Kenton and Arlene moved to Broomfield in 2005 to be closer to their grandchildren.
Kenton was creative and talented. He had a beautiful singing voice, was a wildly good artist and passed along his love of writing to his daughter and grandchildren. He adored our Colorado mountains, fell in love with every dog he saw and tried to get a smile out of every baby who passed by. He was incredibly proud. He was proud of his Marine service. He was proud to tell everyone that he and Arlene had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, and he was incredibly proud of Noah and Julia, his grandchildren who he adored. Together, Grandma and Papa attended every soccer game, school performance, dance recital, graduation, holiday and birthday dinner. He didn’t miss a moment of their lives and our little family of six now has a big hole.
Kenton passed away peacefully after a short illness on September 3, 2022 surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Karen. He is survived by his wife Arlene; daughter Stacy Baum, son-in-law Michael, grandchildren, Noah and Julia; twin brother Kenneth (Rosie); and 13 nieces and nephews who adored their “Uncle Ski".
A rosary (10:30am) and funeral Mass (11am) will be celebrated at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado on September 14, 2022. Donations can be made in Kenton’s honor to Catholic Charities of Denver.