Kathy Varela

William Starke

Vessey Funeral Service - Fort Collins

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Obituary
William R. "Bill" Starke, died peacefully after a long illness on May 23, 2018 in Albuquerque,
NM, where he had been living in the care of his daughter Kate for almost a year. He was 82.
Born January 17, 1936 in Flushing, NY to the late Frank L. and Josephine Martin Starke, Bill
grew up in Great Neck, Long Island and graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut, where
he was awarded "Best All-Around Athlete." He went on to earn his degree in Classics from
Brown University before serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

While stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD, he was introduced to Mary "Kay"
Buckingham on a blind date and proposed to her on their thirteenth date. Kay accepted because
he was "kind and interesting," words that would describe Bill his entire life. They were married
six months later, on June 30, 1958. After living in Longmont, CO until 1974, the family moved to
Fort Collins, CO, where Bill had purchased the historic Northern Hotel, which he maintained
until its sale in 2000. Tragically, Bill's beautiful and dearly loved wife Kay was killed in an
automobile accident in 1985.

A star quarterback at Kent, Bill was an avid sports fan all his life, but his favorite athletes were
always his children, whom he would cheer on with great gusto. He also particularly enjoyed
meeting people, good conversation, cooking, all types of food, and helping others. He also
enjoyed picking up aluminum cans, not just to improve the environment but to recycle for cash.

Bill often said that none of the many joys life had brought him surpassed the joys his children
gave him. He is survived by his five children: Jeffrey of Fort Collins, Gregory of Denver, Kate
Sanchez (Gregory) of Albuquerque, Matthew (Christine) of Fort Collins, and Andrew of Fort
Collins; his sister, Nancy Ovca of New Jersey; and ten grandchildren: Corey, Jasmine, Reed,
Kaylee, Gharet, Sean, Aspen, Bohdan, Maximus and Willean. Services will be held on July 27
at 2:00 p.m., Windsong Estate Event Center (Bridle Hill), 2901 Saddle Blvd, Fort Collins, Colorado. 

Memorial Service
Windsong Estate 
Friday, July 27, 2018 

2:00 PM 

Email Details 

2901 Saddler Blvd
Severence, Colorado 

July 27 at 2:00 p.m., Windsong Estate Event Center (Bridle Hill), 2901 Saddle Blvd, Fort Collins, Colorado. 
Directions

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William Starke Obituary | Altogether