Born in Elma, Iowa on May 12, 1930. He lived on a farm until attending Cresco High School from 1945 to 1949. He then attended the Woodard School of Photography in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating, he co-owned a portrait studio in Cresco, Iowa. After the Korean War started, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served until retirement in 1974. Following his military service, he enrolled in El Paso Community College and earned an Associate Degree in Restaurant and Food Management. In 1975 he married Katharina G. Trifaro and together they owned and operated two variety sub shops in Colorado Springs until 1982. He was semi-retired until 1995, but was not truly retired until the time of his passing.
He is survived by children David Shock of Marietta, Ohio and Debra (Leone) Ferrin of Waupaca, Wisconsin; 5 grandchildren; sister Rita Tegland of Moose Lake, Minnesota; stepdaughters Linda White Trifaro of Alpine, Arizona and Sharon Norris of Longmont, Colorado.
