Edward Jerome LaVelle

Kathi LaVelle, wife of our dear friend Jerry LaVelle, has let us know that Jerry passed away on Thanksgiving afternoon. Jerry suffered a stroke the day previous and passed quickly with his immediate family in attendance. Jerry will be buried at the Fort Logan Cemetery, in the Denver area, accompanied by a military flag ceremony and taps, as Jerry was a veteran. Born in Covington, KY August 26th 1938, he loved his experience as a boy scout so much and was very proud to be chosen to attend the Boy Scout Jamboree. This is where his interest in survival and living off the land was first discovered. He went into the Air Force at 18 years old, and loved his time serving his country. Jerry always said he had it made, he was in Photo Interpretation, which peaked his interest in maps and engineering. After the Air Force he came to Denver to attend DU and started his degree as an engineer. Jerry married Sally in 1961, then started his family and began a career at Western Electric. He married Kathi in 1983, continuing his 36 year career, and retired from Quest in the late 90's. Jerry loved camping and hiking, he would walk around several lakes in the Denver area as well as the mountain areas. He loved to learn everything he could about survival and living off the land. He was very interested in learning about primitive skills, using only tools from the land, he would build his own fire, making bow and arrows. He made his own cloths, baskets, and string. Jerry was an avid outdoors man and scholar. A lifelong learner, he had just finished his archeological certificate this last year and set up educational opportunities for participants at the annual Earth Knack Gatherings for several years in a row, with the state of Colorado Archeological Society at the Lamb's Spring Mammoth Site and Birding and Plant Tours at the Chatfield State Park. The Chatfield State Park and Reservoir Area of south Denver has been Jerry's favorite nature haunt. Jerry was also a mycologist, and would have been sure to let you know he was a real fungi! Jerry was witty and full of fun,, always quick with a pun, a joke, a smile, and constantly radiating the pure pleasure of practicing primitive skills. He attended many primitive skills programs, mountain man programs and a multitude of nature programs and classes. Jerry attended his first Earth Knack class around 1994 and became a regular attendee at the many ancestral skills events around the country, known to many as ""the dog bane man!"" Jerry was always studying and reading about history and science. His education started at Covington High School, to Photo Interpreter in the Air Force, to a Bachelors in Biology at Metro State, then five years of studying French at ACC and 2 months in France. While living the winter season in Florida, 2009 - 2012 he received a Florida Master Naturalist Certificate. In just the last few years he worked on and received his Certificate of Expertise from Colorado Archaeological Society of Colorado. While accomplishing all of this, Jerry loved his family and would do anything for them all. He was a best friend and Husband to Kathi, Dad to Edward Jerome LaVelle, Cynthia Jeanette (LaVelle) Wiseman, Troy Thomas Trumble, Tamara Kay Trumble, Papa and Pamboom to his grand children, Brigid Lavelle, Peri Peterson, Taylor Trumble, Taryn Trumble, Nicole Lavelle, Tanner Trumble and great grandson Rhyland Aaron Gonzales, brother toJack LaVelle, Joan Lavelle, Jim Lavelle, Rose LaVelle, as well as an uncle to numerous nieces and nephews, and brother in law. He had a very special relationship with them all. We traveled together hand in hand from Alaska to France to Belize, and all across the USA. Wherever we went it was an adventure of exploring and learning new cultures. He will be missed so much. Services for Jerry to be scheduled at a later date. Those in the Colorado Front Range area are invited to attend the burial. There will be no other ceremonies open to general attendance. The family has asked that any donations be sent to the Jerry LaVelle Scholarship Fund to Earth Knack PO # 508 Crestone, Colorado 81131. This is a primitive skills educational scholarship fund in Jerry's memory. This scholarship will be available to youth or adults with a keen interest in learning primitive skills who are interested in attending the annual Earth Knack Family Gathering. There will be a memorial fire for Jerry at the 27th annual Earth Knack Gathering in June, 2017. If you would like to send cards to the family, please send them to Horan & McConaty at 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO, 80227. Please share your condolences in the guestbook below.