Kenneth Dale Wylie, 85
Kenneth Dale Wylie, of Sterling, Colorado, passed away Friday, May 5, 2023. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m.,Thursday, May 11, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Kenneth was born May 11, 1936, in Bridgeport, Nebraska to William Earl and Margaret Maggie (Bonar) Wylie. He attended schools in Bridgeport, Nebraska and later received his GED while he was in the Navy. Ken joined the Navy in 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was a Navy Corpsman, specializing in brace and limb fitting. He was stationed at San Diego Naval Hospital and Camp Pendleton. He transferred to the U.S.S. Jason in 1957, making two tours to Japan. In 1959, he was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA, where he attended Orthopedic Appliance School, graduating in 1960. He was then assigned to the Orthopedic Appliance shop at Philadelphia Naval Hospital.
Kenneth married Peggy Ann Edwards on June 12, 1963, in Philadelphia, PA. They later moved to Sterling after his honorable discharge in March of 1964. After moving to Sterling, he was employed by the Sterling Police Dept. from April 1964 to July 1966. He then was employed by The Colorado State Patrol as a communication officer for 31½ years from 1966 to 1997. After retirement, he was employed as a seasonal gate attendant at North Sterling State Park for 10 years.
Ken was a past Exalted Ruler of BPO ELKS Lodge #1336. He was a board member of the Sunshine Foundation for several years (this foundation grants wishes to chronic or terminally ill children). He was also a 10-year member of the CO PPA board, a longtime member of American Legion Post 20 and Jake Uhrig VFW Post 3541. Ken enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, and camping and vacationing in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers John and Willis; sisters-in-law Jo and Elva; niece Sandra; nephew Melvin and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Kenneth is survived by his wife Peggy; close friends Dawna (Wesley) Goss and family; Gayle (Ray) Unrein and family, and many nieces and nephews.
Contributions may be made in Kenneth’s memory to the BPOE Clem Audin Fund, 321 Ash Street, Sterling, CO 80751.