Robert Payton Kitchell died at Poudre Valley Hospital on May 9, 2022. He was born on June 8, 1940 in Des Moines, IA to Robert and Margaret Kitchell. Bob graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines before entering the Colorado School of Mines for his undergraduate study. Bob graduated from Mines in 1962 after leaving his mark as Student Body President in his senior year. He participated in the school’s ROTC program and graduated with a P.E in Geology. His time at Mines was long enough to instill in him a life-long love for the people and mountains of CO.
His ROTC commission took him into the Army for six years which included tours in Vietnam and Eastern Europe. Upon leaving Active Duty, Bob became a part of the U.S. Army Reserve system where he served until retirement and attained the rank of LTC. Still feeling a brotherhood with the military, Bob then moved on and became an active part of the Department of Defense’s ESGR ( Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve) program and recently received its “Spirit of Volunteerism” award.
His thirst for knowledge enticed him back to the campus and he attained an MSCE at Northeastern and an MS at the University of Iowa. But it was time to get back to the Colorado he loved so much. Whether he was walking the woods, riding his Harley or an old farm truck through the trees, Bob “experienced” Colorado. He passed his love of the outdoors to his grandchildren as he patiently taught them to fish, to read tracks, and the beauty of a sunrise from a campsite in the woods.
As part of the Emergency Task Force during the Fort Collins flood that destroyed the trailer park and swamped the CSU library, his strength and expertise were valuable assets to the rescue team. Bob also spent hours volunteering for the Fort Collins Lions Club, a service club dedicated “to serve” where needed. For years, he assisted at the 9Health Fair every Spring , and was a mentor and source of strength; he assumed positions of leadership and responsibility at both the State and local level of the Lions Clubs. Bob gave respect to all people and stayed true to his vision. While leading the “No Pipe Dream” project, Bob’s engineering background was an important factor in the success of the Project.
He is is survived by his first wife, Jan, and their two children, Drew (Kimberly) and Julie Black (Greg); they divorced in 1981. Shortly thereafter, Bob met the love of his life, Carole, they married and had 41 years together until the time of his death. From that first moment, Bob embraced her three children, Teri-Sue, Michelle and Tim Lundy as his own! Their grandchildren, Courtney and Jamie (Lundy), Brea (deceased) and Maggie (Garner), Clay and Noah (Lundy), Graham and Nicholas (Black), Aleta and Melita (McKinley), and Josephine (Kitchell) each had a place in his heart.
Bob’s service will be held at the Allnutt Funeral Service Chapel, 650 W. Drake on June 28, 2022 at 2PM with burial the next day in Fort Logan. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either The Fort Collins Lions Foundation, 1740 S. College, Fort Collins 80525 or The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), P.O.Box 3894, Missoula, MT. 59806-9902
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