Allen LeRoy Kenney

On September 7, 2025, Allen L. Kenney (89) passed away peacefully in his sleep, with his beloved wife, Mary, by his side. Born in 1936 in Viola, Iowa, to G.F. (Franklin) and Ruth (Beach) Kenney, Allen was the third of their ten children.

Allen (or Al, as he preferred) grew up on the family farm, then worked in the manufacturing department at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, until he entered the U.S. Army. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers’ Construction Battalion, working on projects in notable places like the Pentagon and West Point. In 1958, he met his soul mate, Mary Carolan, and they wed in 1960. The two of them moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1961, where they raised their two children, Rhonda (Gifford) and Jeffrey.

Al took the skills he honed while in the Corps of Engineers and began his lifelong career, first as a bricklayer and stone mason, then as a partner in Silver State Construction. In 1969, he and his brother, Lyle, formed Kenney Bros. Construction Co., Inc. Lyle left the company in 1971, but Al continued as General Contractor and Mary as Controller until their retirement in 2004.

Over their years in Boulder, they formed close and enduring friendships, many of them with former clients. Al was a member of the Boulder Elks Club, the Boulder Optimist Club, season ticket holder for University of Colorado football games from 1969-2010, and a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish since arriving in Colorado.

Although a self-proclaimed “workaholic,” Al still found time for fun in his life. He enjoyed many of the sports Colorado offers in every season, such as skiing (downhill, cross country, and water), camping, boating, horseback riding, and golfing and he was an avid gardener. He and Mary were inseparable, working and recreating together. They discovered the joys of travel in middle age and were members of the Ports of Call Travel Club. Over the years, they visited Tahiti, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, and a variety of locations within the U.S., but Al’s favorite destination by far was Hawai’i, particularly Maui.

Al was predeceased by his parents, four of his brothers (Lyle, Rolland, Bill and Hillis), his son, Jeff, and his son-in-law, Jon Gifford. He is survived by his wife, Mary Kenney; daughter, Rhonda Gifford; three grandsons, Zachary Gifford (Kelly Jones), Kyle Gifford (Madison), and Trevor Gifford (Eva Smith); two granddaughters, Audrey Kenney and Robyn Mastriona (Rocco); six great-grandchildren, (Carsen, Lucas, Giovanni, Harrison, Arlo, and Ella); his remaining siblings and/or their spouses: Doris Kenney (Hillis’ widow); Wendell Kenney (Betty); Karen Kenney (Rolland’s widow); Carroll Kenney; Viola Birdsall (Pat); Wallace Kenney; and Millard aka Mike Kenney (Faye); as well as a multitude of extended family and friends.

Dementia robbed Al of some of his vitality in his last years, but he never lost his curiosity, loving nature and sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.

The U.S. Army will render Military Honors at noon on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boulder. Afterwards, a Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00pm at Crist Mortuary, 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the Celebration of Life and additional information will be available at www.cristmortuary.com