April 5, 1939 ~ May 1, 2021 (age 82)
Glenn Richard Klepel passed away May 1, 2021 peacefully in his home while sleeping. He was born April 5, 1939 and recently celebrated his 82nd birthday with many friends and family attending a surprise party at his home. His father William Paul "Casey" Klepel (1907 - 1978) married Martha Anna Podewils (1914 - 1995) during the depression 1933 in Big Stone County, Minnesota. They were members of Trinity Lutheran Church and had three children. Glenn's older sister Anita (1935 - 2017) settled in Texas where she raised children and grandchildren. His younger sister Marlys is the last living sibling who also has children and grandchildren.
Glenn grew up on farms in Big Stone County. I do not remember him talking about farming but he loved to hunt and he provided all of the family's meat by fishing and pheasant hunting. Minnesota was a land of plenty and Glenn enjoyed the outdoors. He was athletic and had a strong pitching arm. He tried out for Minor League Baseball Pitcher for Minnesota Millers when he was a teenager. He graduated in 1958 from Ortonville High School and served in the Minnesota National Guard until 1959. He worked for a while for his father in Minnesota but his wanderlust and two like minded friends wanted to see more of the country so the three of them hopped in a car and drove out west. They made it to a motel in Boulder Canyon 1959 where they ran out of gas and money. Glenn quickly found work and remained in Boulder County the rest of his life. He loved Boulder Falls and his visiting relatives hiked with him to see their beauty near the place he first stopped to live his adult life.
He was employed at the University of Colorado in 1959 and promoted to Head Grounds Keeper a few years later. Glenn was married in 1961 to Delores Rose, she and their three children survive him and have children of their own. He married Connie Avery in 1982 and enjoyed an extended and happy family. After he retired from the University of Colorado he started a new business and career Pioneer Plating in Lyons where he bought a house and had antique shops on Main Street in the late 1980's and 1990's. His family enjoyed many parades and firework shows from the sidewalk in front of his antique stores. He worked and lived in Lyons over 34 years. Glenn loved his town, neighbors and life in Lyons and refused to leave or entertain any discussion about life in a more temperate climate. He served on Lyons Town Council starting in 1994 and was the Mayor of Lyons from 1996 until 2000 then served as Trustee. Glenn is survived by one sister, two wives, three children, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
There will be a graveside ceremony for Glenn Klepel at Lyons Cemetery on Wednesday, May 19 at 11 am.
