Gale Clevenger Kehmeier

Gale Clevenger Kehmeier died of heart failure Tuesday, September 16, 2003, at Porter Hospice in Littleton. He was 85. The son of Dan and Hazel Kehmeier, he was born on a farm in Eckert, Colorado, March 15, 1918. He married Georgette Dean on March 22, 1942, in California. They had three children: a son Dean and daughters Gail and Melanie. They divorced in 1973. In October of 1974, he married Lucile Keys in Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Kehmeier graduated from High School in Eckert in 1934 and received a B.A. from Western State College in 1938. He served in the United States Air Force United Airlines ATC Group from 1941­1943.

In 1943, he moved to Denver. He was a pilot for United Airlines from 1940 to 1965. Then he flew for Ports of Call Travel Club from 1967 until his retirement in 1978. He was a celestial navigator for Ports of Call for several years after his retirement. While flying, Mr. Kehmeier also worked as a substitute teacher for the Denver Public School System.

He was an active member of both the Colorado Mountain Club and the Capital City Kiwanis for many years. Mr. Kehmeier served a term as president of both clubs. He also enjoyed Toastmasters Club in his later years.

His passions were traveling, writing, and hiking. He visited 110 countries and wrote hundreds of articles about traveling and history, many of which were published.

He was a colorful character who lived an adventuresome, exciting life, and he will be missed deeply by his family and friends.

Survivors include a son, Dean Keh--meier, of Durango, Colorado, a daughter, Melanie Roeder of Boulder, Colorado, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Gail Kehmeier in 1965 and his second wife, Lucile, in 2002.

A memorial service was held at the Presbyterian Church in Eckert, Colorado, on October 16th, 2003.

Contributions may be made in his name to the Colorado Mountain Club.

To go west, my friend, is a journey we all must take. Have a smooth flight, Dad.