Kevin Bruce Jeffery

Kevin Bruce Jeffery passed away at the age of 87 on March 12, 2024, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado from complications of pneumonia with his wife and children by his side. Kevin was born April 11,1936 in Anamosa, Iowa.  He grew up in Oxford Mills, Iowa, attended high school in Oxford Junction, Iowa and graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.  

Kevin is survived by his wife, Carole (Freeman) Jeffery, their children; Andrea Jeffery of Ringwood, Illinois, Curtis Jeffery and wife Amy (Supik) of Lafayette, Colorado; daughter-in-law, MaryBeth (Boch) Jeffery, San Jose, California; grandchildren Jack Jeffery, Austin, Texas, Caitlin (Jeffery) Estes and great grandson, Maverick Estes, Carlsbad, California.  He is also survived by sister-in-law Colette Freeman and her husband, Donald Short, Potomac, Maryland.  Preceding him in death was son, Bruce Freeman Jeffery, and his parents, Harold and Ethel Jeffery.

While at Coe, he participated in ROTC and upon graduation entered the Air Force pilot training program. He met his wife, Carole, while attending Coe and they married Oct. 4^th,1959 when he was halfway through his year of training.  He proudly served 25 years in the Air Force with 10 years active duty, flying refueling tankers which included service in the Viet Nam conflict.  He joined the Air National Guard unit at O’Hare in Chicago and continued flying tankers for another 15 years.  He retired from service in 1984 as Lt. Colonel.  He worked for United Airlines for 27 years based in Chicago and New York flying domestic and international routes on several aircraft retiring as a Captain on the 767.  In anticipation of retirement, Kevin and Carole decided to make their final home in Golden, Colorado.

Good memories were made while being stationed in Texas, Delaware, California, New Mexico, Alabama, and North Dakota before settling in Crystal Lake, Illinois when he joined UAL.  His Air National Guard friends (The Rowdies) were his long-time buddies. He constantly connected with them and was looking forward to a reunion in the fall. He never forgot his childhood friends.  He was also planning to reunite with them this summer.  He was very patriotic and did what he could to help the country.  Seeing other countries makes us treasure what we have here in America.

Kevin was a member of Rockland Community church, American Legion, Retired United Pilots Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Military Officers Association of America, Air Force Association, and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.  Services will be held Wednesday, March 27^th at 1PM.

 Donations can be made to the Clarence, Iowa American Legion, and Wounded Warriors.

Kevin's family will greet friends and family at a Visitation on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 beginning at 1:00pm until 3:00pm with a Funeral Service to follow at 3:00PM both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood.

Burial will be in the family plot in Clarence, Iowa.  

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