On May 29, 2024, Kent Stuart McDonald received final clearance for take-off from the Lowry Field Tower, revved the engine of his ’74 VW Bug, and sped off into the sunset. Four years and two days after he lost his wife and best friend, he began a new adventure with her and all of their beloved dogs, somewhere, out there.
Kent Stuart McDonald was born on November 21, 1945 in Fort Collins, Colorado to Duane and Verna (Pagenstecher) McDonald. His cherished sister, Lynne, followed. Kent loved all sports and spent his early summers braving the San Antonio South Texas heat and humidity wearing a wool little league uniform. He brought his starched shirts, southern drawl, and ranch-hand sayings to Colorado when his family moved to Windsor in 1957. He met the love of his life, Patty (Bernhardt), in the sixth grade.
After graduating high school in 1964, Kent courted Patty from a distance, riding his bicycle between CSU in Fort Collins, to UNC in Greeley. They were married in 1967, and after learning that their first Peace Corps assignment would be digging ditches in Thailand, Kent made the sensible decision to return to law school at CU Boulder instead.
Kent began work as a lawyer with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in Washington, D.C., but he and Patty returned to Colorado after their first daughter was born to be near family. He commuted two hours a day (on good days) from Longmont to Lowry Air Force base in Aurora for the next thirty years, the majority of them in his rusted-out, orange VW Beatle, wearing a dark suit and tie, a cigarette hanging from his lips. We still listen at dinnertime for the whirring sound the engine made going from first to second at the stop sign at 4th and Pratt. He was good friends with most of his colleagues, but there were not many days he liked or enjoyed his job. However, he did it faithfully and well, so that his three daughters could grow up in a cozy, 1980s suburban town, lacking for nothing. Despite his long hours, he never missed a dance recital or a basketball game.
We were the lucky recipients of his gentle kindness and patience and got to witness how well he loved our mother. Although he was the smartest person any of us ever knew, he was never arrogant or condescending. He was a quiet person, but when he spoke, his words mattered in that they were usually very wise, or very kind. We didn’t always follow his advice, but on the rare occasion it was offered, it turns out he was rarely wrong.
Kent was famous for his use of the chipper-putter from 150 yards out, on in. A true gentleman, he always greeted the suitors that came to his front porch with courtesy and a firm handshake. He had a subtle sense of humor and laughed sparingly, but when he did, it was like pixie dust. Although he could be cranky when he was scared for our safety or our happiness, it was only because he loved his wife, his kids, his grandchildren, and his dogs so very much.
Kent is survived by his sister, Lynne Mosbaugh, his daughters, Erin (James) Dawe, Shea (Heath) Burchill, Quinn (Theodore) Finn, his grandchildren, Lawson, Finn, Ryley, Sawyer, Atticus, Harper and Aidan, his nieces and nephews, and by Willow, his faithful rez dog rescue. He was our sage and our North Star, and we will miss him always.
Cremation is entrusted to Howe Mortuary & Crematory of Longmont, Colorado.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the McDonald family.
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