Ken Kleinschmidt Obituary

Kleinschmidt
Ken Kleinschmidt
January 11, 1940
March 25, 2022

Kenneth Kleinschmidt, 82, passed away at his home on March 25th, 2022, after a short battle with cancer.
Ken was born January 11, 1940, in Wabash County, IL, to Lena (Raber) and Edwin "Happy" Kleinschmidt. He was raised on a small farm, was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, and graduated from Mt Carmel High School in 1958.
He was drafted into the USAR in 1967 and stationed at Fort Carson where he served as an MP. He separated from the Army on July 31, 1969, and made Colorado Springs his permanent home.
In 1978, he purchased Peerless Products, a wholesale business which he owned and operated until his death. In 1983 he married Susan Marie Holmes, a professional artist, with whom he shared their son, Thomas Edwin. They made their home in the Cheyenne Canyon neighborhood, and shared many happy years together before her death in 2002. They were longtime members of the Country Club of Colorado, and enjoyed playing tennis and golf, a wide circle of friends, and supporting Tom in sports and other interests. Ken also enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, being a "regular" at his favorite local hangouts, and any excuse to spend time with his family and friends. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Susan; older sister, Betty Garwood, brother, Donald Kleinschmidt, and father-in-law, Jules D'Orsay Holmes. He is survived by his son, Thomas Edwin Kleinschmidt, his daughter-in-law, Amanda Mayhew Kleinschmidt, and his two-year-old grandson, Ansel Edwin Kleinschmidt, of Colorado Springs. To Ansel he was "Pak" and they shared a special relationship.
He is also survived by his family - brothers Edwin Kleinschmidt and Glenn Kleinschmidt; cousin Rich (Pam) Kintzel; nieces Alice (Leland) Marriott and Shari Stevenson, and nephew, Allen Kleinschmidt; great-nephews Timothy (Barbara) Marriott, Matthew (Jana) Marriott and Connor Stevenson, and great-niece Samantha (Patrick) Holterhaus, and their families. He is also survived by his wife's family - mother-in-law, Lucy Holmes; brothers-in-law Mark (Collette) Holmes, Jeff Holmes, and Edwin (Lisa) Holmes; nephews and niece, Matthew, Marianna, and Robert Holmes. Finally, he is survived by a wide network of wonderful friends, acquaintances and colleagues.
A memorial service will be held on July 29th, 11 AM at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, followed by a lunch reception in the plaza. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, a charity that Ken supported throughout his life.