Kenneth Pierce, 83, of LaSalle, died February 7th, 2013 at his home. Ken was born May 13, 1929 at the family farm near Briggsdale, Colorado to Oakley G. Pierce and Bessie (Elizabeth) V. (Lynch) Pierce. He was the youngest child of seven and the only child to stay on the farm. To his farming operation, he added his Uncle Floyd Pierce’s original homestead and other properties. Ken attended Ebberson Grade School and Briggsdale High School and graduated in 1947. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University. As a Corporal during the Korean War, Ken taught radar and guided missile electronics at Fort Monmouth, NJ.
Not only was Ken a devoted wheat farmer, he was one of the pioneers of using artificial insemination to improve his primarily Simmental cattle herd. He and a few of his neighbors developed a grazing association near his farm. Ken enjoyed the vast open spaces of the plains. In the 1990’s, due to deteriorating health, the cattle were sold and Ken placed the majority of his farm into the Conservation Reserve Program. He moved to Kersey, CO so he could be closer to medical facilities yet still have access to his farm. In 2010, he moved to a home in LaSalle, CO. Recently the last of his farm was sold to his long time neighbors and friends the Jim Sievers family.
During his last few years his farming was limited to his tomato plants. He loved finding a bargain at local auctions and enjoyed tinkering with anything mechanical from his combine or tractor, to his numerous computers. He was happy to research anything on the internet and kept in touch with his many friends and relatives on his computer. Ken’s friends and neighbors said that he could fix anything.
Ken is survived by his sisters Orie Mangan of Maraposa, CA and Ethlynne Manisto of Van Nuys, CA. His extended family includes nephews Roy Leroux of Prescott, AZ, Steven Leroux of Windsor, CO, Michael Leroux of Windsor and Radium CO, Darrel Knuppel of Grover CO, Joe Mangan of Reno, NV, Pat Mangon of Mariposa, CA, Terry Mangan of Aurora, CO, Sean Mangan of Everett, MA, Norman Rosling of Grand Junction, CO, Kit Rosling of Roggen, CO, Richard Pierce of Topeka, KS, James Pierce of Hays, KS, and his nieces Sally (Leroux ) Keefer of Leesburg, VA, Linda ( Leroux) Jones of Meeker, CO, Kathy ( Knuppel) Kracht of Sterling, CO, Margie (Knuppel) Geyer of Fort Collins, CO, Janice (Knuppel) Sorensen of New Raymer, CO, Morgan ( Potter) Seaborn of Albuquerque, NM, Susan (Rosling) Leinhauser of Mariposa, CA, and Bonnie (Pierce) Hamlin of Panama City Beach, FL. He will also be deeply missed by his close friends Bob and Ramona Shepherd. He was preceded in death by sisters Lucille Leroux of Radium, CO, Dorthy Knuppel of Grover, CO, Hazel Potter of Reno, NV, Ada Rosling of Commerce City, CO and brother, Bud Pierce of Hays, KS.
Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Stoddard Funeral Home, Greeley, CO
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