Kenneth "Ken" Bledsoe

Devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, brother and son, Ken Bledsoe passed away on April 19th. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughter, Erin Vigil (Erik Vigil) and grandchildren Noah, Mikaela, Shiloh and Tinsley; and siblings Eugene Daley, Mary Bledsoe and Will Bledsoe. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary D. Bledsoe and Bill Bledsoe.

Born in Monahans, Texas, Ken's early life can be characterized as overcoming adversity. At age six he contracted polio and had to learn to walk again. Following his recovery, Ken held the city record for the fifty-yard dash at Wilson Junior High and became a high school football and track star at Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After high school, Ken attended Fort Lewis College in Durango where he achieved a bachelor's degree in American and Southwest history. He later received two master's degrees from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He served six years in the New Mexico and Colorado Army National Guard, becoming a tank commander and medic. While returning from a monthly drill for the Colorado National Guard, Ken and a fellow reservist happened upon a head-on collision. Together, they were credited with saving lives and subsequently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Ken was a highly esteemed educator in the Poudre School District, having taught American West and World Cultures and Geography at Rocky Mountain High School for twenty-four years. He also developed the first AP Human Geography course at RMHS and was awarded the Poudre School District Distinguished Teacher Award; as well as Teacher of the Year and Honor faculty at RMHS. For twenty years, Ken coached track and field at Rocky where he coached a Colorado State high jump champion. Ken began his teaching and coaching career at Grants High School in New Mexico.

Ken retired in 2003 and began researching his biological father, Vernon Elder, who was a B-17 tail gunner in the South Pacific during WWII. Vernon's plane crashed near Horn Island off the coast of Australia in 1942. Vernon survived and continued to fly bombing missions. To honor his father's service, Ken and Phyllis reconstructed Vernon's journey, interviewed remaining survivors of the crash and traveled to Horn Island. Ken snorkeled to locate and investigate the wreckage of Vernon's plane and then published the book "Echoes From an Eagle", a loving tribute to his father.

Ken enjoyed being out in nature whether it was hiking in the Rocky Mountains or the prairies. In addition, he enjoyed volunteering in his daughter's elementary school classes. If one were to ask Ken what was most meaningful about his life, he would not hesitate - "Loving my family." Ken will be so profoundly missed by his family, friends, and neighbors.

A celebration of life and internment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Colorado Special Olympics in Ken's honor. Or feed and water your backyard birds!