Charles Kenner

Born on May 15, 1948, in Wheaton Missouri to Mildred and Thomas Kenner, he was the second child of seven. His older sister was Margaret and the younger siblings were Karen, Freddie, Jimmy, Annie and Dee Anna. Chuck was close to his maternal grandparents. He learned to fish from his grandfather. The Kenner family moved during his grade school to Redondo Beach, California where Chuck, known as Charlie joined the boy scouts. Leaving high school early, Chuck worked hard to support his first wife and son, David. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training. From there he was sent to Vietnam with to serve his one-year combat obligation. He served as point man in the First Calvary. During his service, he contracted malaria and was injured by shrapnel from a bomb blast. He received the following acknowledgments: Combat, Infantry Badge First Award, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal & Bronze Star Attachment, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Expert Badge and Mortar Bar, Sharp Shooter Badge, Auto Rifle Bar and Pistol Bar. He was returned to the United States and stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO. During that time in 1971, he met the love of his life, Alberta Niles. Chuck was honorably discharged and returned to California where his marriage had ended and wrapped up his affairs. He told his sisters about this wonderful girl he met in Colorado and he was going back to marry her. Chuck and Alberta married in 1972. They moved to the mountains where they raised their daughters, Cathirene Gertrude Kenner and Dawn Arlene Kenner. They lived in Berthoud Falls and Lawson near the Henderson Mine where Chuck worked underground for seventeen years. He was a first-class miner educated at the Colorado School of Mines. Chuck loved his family, hunting, camping and fishing with Alberta the girls and later with his grandsons, Tony and Jason. In 2008 Chuck and Alberta moved to Thornton, CO. He and Alberta enjoyed traveling to California and Arkansas to visit Chuck’s adopted mother and father, Bettie and Tony Kolda and their family. After numerous bouts with health problems since 1995, Chuck used up 15 of his 9 lives before losing the battle on January 9, 2018. He is survived by his wife Alberta Kenner, first daughter Cathy Burds and family Jimmy, Tony, Jason, Kyle and Kaylee, second daughter Dawn Kenner and family Deverrick and Samantha, and son David and his children David and Emma. Also, his surviving siblings are Margaret Kenner, Annie Sipplewitch, Dee Anna Bonachea and son Jimmy Raff. Because he enjoyed children so much, Chuck also had his grandsons’ friends that considered him grandpa. Kendrick, Zak, and Jason were with him to the end. There are too many others to add to this list that remembered Chuck as the most fun adult to be around when they were children. He will be missed by many.