Kenneth Lee Fender

Ken Fender was born November 23, 1946, in Brush, Colorado to Kenneth E & Lily L Fender. Ken was the eldest of three children. Growing up in Snyder and Derby-Commerce City, Colorado, Ken loved to spend time with his grandparents and in high school he enjoyed playing football, basketball, lacrosse and baseball. Ken graduated from Adams City High School in 1964. After high school, Ken joined the US Navy where he served on aircraft carriers Coral Sea and Bon Homme Richard from 1966-1969.

After his time in the Navy, Ken returned home to Denver, Colorado where he met the love of his life, Carol Ann Kelley on a blind date. They were married February 14th, 1970, in Elizabeth, Colorado. Together they lived first in Aurora, and then Greeley, Colorado where Ken graduated from University of Northern Colorado in 1973 with a degree in Business Marketing. During his time there he started a club for fellow military veterans. Their first child Jason Robert was born in Greeley. While working for Sweetheart Cups in Sioux Falls South Dakota, their second child Kelley LeeAnn was born. They spent two years in Albuquerque, New Mexico where they met lifelong friends and saw the importance of Christian education for their kids. Ken and Carol fondly called Colorado home and settled in Colorado Springs. Ken was a successful residential real estate broker for over 30 years, making new friends with every home he sold. While their

kids were in college, they enjoyed sponsoring a few Air Force Academy cadets who became like family. They loved attending their activities at the Air Force Academy. Ken enjoyed the blessing of having extra kids in their house!

Ken put a high priority on his faith and family. He loved teaching Sunday school and would often teach students about being a “Bible person,” the only Bible that some people may ever read. He had a passion to point people to Jesus in all his interactions. Ken volunteered for many years with Gideons International and often shared about the Gideons ministry to local churches.

After their nest was empty, Ken and Carol loved to spend time with family and friends from Arizona to Texas. They even spent some time RV’ing and took several trips to Branson to see Elvis and the Sight and Sound Theater. Their children and grandchildren and now great-grandson are a constant source of activity and joy! Ken loved to get the rundown on what was happening with each of the grandkids. His biggest joy was knowing that they loved Jesus! He loved attending flag football, basketball (in person and streaming), volleyball and really any activity that he could be at to support his grandkids! One of he and Carol’s favorite hobbies besides attending grandkids’ events was driving corvettes and being part of the Corvette Club.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 55 years Carol Ann, his brother Jim and wife Lin, his sister Rebecca, his son Jason and wife Kerri, grandchildren Cayman and wife Susanna and great grandson Maverick, Caleb and wife Jessica, Janie, and Anabelle Fender; daughter Kelley and husband Philip Erickson and granddaughter Stella. He also is survived by several friends, cadets and neighbors who became the extended family that he loved dearly.

Services will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 am at Swan Law Chapel, 501 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Please join the family after the service for a reception at Swan Law.

Donations may be made to Colorado Springs Christian School (www.cscslions.org) in his honor. He loved CSCS! His son, daughter and granddaughter attended, and he loved to attend sporting events and PTO events that his kids were a part of growing up. He believed Christian education was an important investment of faith for the next generation.