Ken Crocombe

Ken Crocombe, beloved husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather, died Friday, October 27, 2023 at Lutheran Hospice, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, after a recurrence of cancer. He was 74 years old.

Ken was born in Chicago, IL in 1949 to parents Robert and Maurine Crocombe. He grew up in Flossmoor, IL—a suburb of Chicago—where he learned to golf and worked as a caddie at Olympia Fields Country Club. Ever the thrill-seeker, however, Ken was also on his high school gymnastics team, competing on trampoline. 

After high school, he decided he would leave Illinois to attend the University of Oklahoma. Some of his friends from Flossmoor were attending school there, there was room on the gymnastics team, and besides, he heard it was a pretty great party school! 

At OU, Ken joined the ATO fraternity, and competed for the OU gymnastics team until trampoline was eliminated from gymnastics competition. It was also at the University of Oklahoma where a blind date introduced him to the love of his life, Pat, to whom he was married for 52 years at the time of his passing. He left OU four years later with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a love of Oklahoma football, and a desire to make a living teaching Transcendental Meditation. He and Pat were both trained as TM teachers in Spain by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1973, but his career as a meditation teacher was ultimately sidelined with the news that he and Pat were becoming parents.

Their son, Kevin, was born in 1975, and it was only just before his birth that Ken began a new career working for a small valve manufacturer called DEMCO. He began that career doing manual labor in the machine shop, but worked his way up in the company, through its many iterations and 33 years later, he retired from what was then called Cameron International as a Product Manager. His work ethic at the company was renowned. Several times he was known to take vacation time just so he could dress down and wear jeans into the office! 

When not diligently working, he treasured spending time at home with his family, and socializing with friends. 

When Kevin announced, at age 10, he wanted to start BMX racing, Ken brought him to the local track, and both of them quickly fell in love with the non-traditional sport. They would spend the next 8 years fully engulfed in all things BMX. Ken’s support of Kevin in this endeavor went so far that he ended up forming and becoming President of a Parents’ Association to run the local track. Not to be outdone by his son, and in a show of solidarity, Ken started racing BMX himself, and the two of them would spend countless hours practicing, preparing the track for races, and traveling all over Oklahoma surrounding states participating in regional or national races.

Beyond BMX racing, after a group ski trip to Crested Butte, CO, Ken also fell in love with snow skiing. In pursuit of that passion, he made many ski trips to Colorado, either with the family, or with his close group of friends. 

In 1993, Kevin left Oklahoma for Colorado for college. This proved to be the perfect excuse for many more visits to colorful Colorado, and during one of those trips, Ken decided that he and Pat should follow their son’s example. When Pat agreed, they made a plan, and 6 years later, while they were sad to leave family and so many great friends, they began a new chapter of their lives. The wind, and red dirt were left behind as they moved to Lakewood, CO where Ken would spend the rest of his years.

During their time in Colorado, Ken and Pat were frequent hosts to friends and family. The guest room was always available, and Ken loved to show people around his favorite Colorado spots. A drive through the mountains was almost always on the to-do list for visitors, followed by good food and libations at favorite restaurants!

In 2011, Kevin and Shealyn were married, and, in Shealyn’s words, Ken and Pat were the best in-laws a person could ask for. Ken and Pat were almost always in attendance for parties and events, and were always up for having some fun. 

In 2016, Ken took on what would become one of his favorite roles in life with the birth of his grandson, Kai. Together with Pat, the two took on their role of grandparents with gusto, earning the combined moniker from Kai of “GramPapa.” Ken and Kai became the best of buds over the past 7 years, climbing trees, sledding, skiing, bike-riding, building LEGO, and playing any and every game of make-believe Kai could dream up!

Ken is mourned by his wife, Pat, son, Kevin, daughter-in-law, Shealyn, and grandson, Kai. Beyond the immediate family, on his side, Ken is also mourned by sister and brother-in-law, Gwen and Jim Patterson, brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Beverly Crocombe, niece, Glenda Ricketson and her husband, Jon, and their daughter, Holly, niece Glory Lynn Hahn, nephew, Grant Hahn and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Addison, Carson, and Lawson. On Pat’s side, Ken is mourned by sister-in-law, Jo Burtcher, niece, Tami Sniegowski, her husband Jim, and children, Shannon and Stephanie, niece, Tracy Leonard, her husband, Charlie and son, Chace, nephew, Jeff Burtcher, and his wife, April. 

Family has requested that in Colorado fashion you dress casually or in what makes you feel comfortable.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ken's honor to any of his favorite charitable organizations:

Doctors Without Boards: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/donate

UNICEF:https://www.unicefusa.org/

The Wildlife Animal Sanctuary: https://71842a.blackbaudhosting.com/71842a/General-Operating

Please share your memories of Ken and condolences with his family by signing the guest book below