Kay Thompson

K Don Thompson was born July 26, 1937 and passed away on February 21, 2020 at age 82. Services will be held at Brown's Funeral Home in Grand Junction Colorado  Friday March 6 at 11:00 am.  Inurnment follows at The Western Slope Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 pm.

K. Don Thompson spent his early years in and around Delta Colorado.  After a brief time attending junior college in Texas, he returned to Delta and met Carolyn Nadine Tinsley. They were married on November 28, 1959, and their 60 year marriage lasted until his death.  Their union resulted in two sons; Kelly Don (born 1961) and Cory Samuel (born 1967), as well as 5 grandchildren ; Kaylee, Courtney, Madison, Krista, and Ryan.  He had multiple great grandchildren.

K. Don retired from the Colorado State Highway Department after 36 years; beginning in 1956 as a laborer and retiring in 1992 as an engineer. He worked on several highways including  Highway 65 over the Grand Mesa and Interstate 70 from Vail Pass, through Glenwood Canyon, and west to Grand Junction.

K.Don loved every minute that he served in the Colorado National Guard.  He entered military service on August 9 1960, reporting for Field Artillery Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His service spans thirty-two years, three months and twenty-six days.  Beginning his career as a Private and earning all enlisted ranks, he attained his goal, becoming the senior enlisted supervisor at company level; the First Sergeant. His final assignment before retirement was a Master Sergeant in Plans and Training at State Headquarters, Colorado Army National Guard. He earned numerous decorations, medals, badges, commendations and citations. He lived the life of the Citizen Soldier.

During the mid 1970's he served 4 years as the mayor of Eagle Colorado. While living in Eagle, he also opened and owned the Country Closet clothing store.
K.Don enjoyed spending time at Lake Powell, Camping, and traveling in his RV.  He loved antique automobiles and car shows, as well as collecting military memorabilia. He wrote several papers on military battles and leadership. He had an amazing group of friends from high school with which  he had dinner with almost every Friday night from the early eighties up until his death.  He will be forever loved and always missed by his family and all the people whose lives he touched in so many ways.