Jeffrey John Konkel

Born August 20, 1956 in Denver, Colorado, fourth in the birth order of 6 children born to Edward Vernon Konkel (Vern) and Rojean T. Konkel. Jeff was born on the same day in the same month as his grandmother on his mother’s side, Minnie M. Templeman (she was born 62 years earlier, 8/20/1894). This no doubt brought Vern, Rojean and Minnie great joy.

Jeff passed away in Denver, Colorado at the age of 58 years and approximately 11 months. There will be a graveside service for Jeff on Saturday, August 29th, 2015, followed by burial. He will be buried in the Garden of Gethseme at Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, CO 80121. Reception at Olinger following the graveside service.

Jeff was preceded in death by E. Vernon Konkel (father, 1970), Minnie M. Templeman (grandmother, 1985), Rojean T. Konkel (mother, 2008) and one of his older brothers, Gregory Keith Konkel, who lived 58 years and passed in March 2011.

Jeff is survived by his older brother, Richard Steven, older sister Susan Marie (Mark) Konkel-White, younger brother Michael Edward (Kathi), and younger sister Katherine Mary Haack (Brian), and also nieces and nephews. Jeff spent time with many of them. Two of his nieces and nephews were fortunate to have spent lots of time in summers with “Uncle Jeff,” as they took off on extended fishing trips in the American West and were regular attendees at an annual professional conference, where Steve would be presenting and Jeff helping out in every way imaginable. Jeff was a master at organizing camping and fishing gear for extensive travels within the Volvo and aboard the Thule box topper.

Jeff’s cousins have fond memories of his passing through Sheridan WYO on his way to the Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho fishing grounds, or on the way back with a rental truck moving family household goods from the Seattle area to Kentucky with his oldest brother. Jeff still found a way to tour the Custer Battlefield along the way, even if his rental vehicle took up both lanes of a two-lane dirt road through the monument. Jeff will be remembered for his keen observations skills, wry sense of humor, and being a “mechanical genius,” preferring the old days when parts lasted decades and not a few short years.

Jeff was fascinated by geology, engineering, and not surprisingly, geneology; he attended many Semesters both at the University of Colorado Boulder and at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden Colorado, in the late 1970’s. His health problems had him facing formidable obstacles in obtaining a degree in Engineering. Some of his best years were living in Lookout Mountain and attending the Colorado School of Mines there. There he also discovered the Lookout Mountain Church. He had an inquisitive mind and could talk for hours on most any topic and give you his opinions.

Jeff and his brothers went on numerous fishing trips exploring some of the rather unknown Western rivers, and always had a great time whether they caught fish (which they usually did) or even if that wasn’t the case. The trips were about being together, exposure to America’s wilderness and some of its best streams.

Jeff loved fixing all things and had a real talent for working on engines. His talent for detailed, fine work was evident from when he was a kid, when he built models of the Apollo Lunar Module and Apollo/Saturn V rocket.

In lieu of flowers for his service, please consider contributions to the E. Vernon and Rojean Templeman Konkel Scholarship Fund, c-o University of Colorado Foundation Gift Processing, P.O. Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217.