BOEKENKAMP, Kerry Comer (Bogy)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, January 07, 2016 Kerry Comer (Bogy) Boekenkamp Kerry Comer Boekenkamp was born in Emporia, Kansas on Labor Day Sept. 5, 1955 to Deloris Jean (Shelton) Boekenkamp and Robert L. Boekenkamp, where his dad was Engineer on the Kansas Turnpike. He passed peacefully at 12:50 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2015 in the Hospice Care of Sun Valley Lodge, Sun City Arizona, as a result of an aging issue associated with a brain tumor/pituitary gland removal surgery in 1974 and a series of strokes from 2007-2015. Kerry may have been born in Kansas but he was raised and deeply rooted in Greeley, Colorado since 1961. He attended Jackson Elementary, John Evans Jr. High and graduated from Greeley West High School in 1973, excelling as a state doubles tennis team contender and a member of the National Honor Society. He received a letter of appointment to West Point Military Academy, but had to suspend it due to his brain surgery in 1974. (Three other classmates also received appointments to service academies that year). Kerry then attended and graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors in 1977, and a Masters in Civil Engineering, Water Supply Planning and Management in 1979. While at CSU, he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Kerry worked summers and several years for Nelson Haley Patterson and Quirk (NHPQ) and its successor ARIX Engineering in Greeley Co along with his dad. His career then took him to the city of Arvada, Colorado. Followed by Glendale/Irvine/Huntington Beach, California, where he worked for a number of related firms, as well as in New Orleans, Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. His last place of employment was with the Water Department at the City of Prescott, Arizona, until his first stroke in 2007. Kerry was always active in many areas of interest: The Boy Scouts earning the highest level of Eagle Scout. He enjoyed the city of Greeley basketball, softball, tennis and golf leagues. As well as participating in the magic club, chess club, sailing, fishing, painting, guitars, music and his Faith. Kerry loved living in the mountain community of Prescott, Arizona since 2006. He had many people instrumental to his enjoyment of life in Prescott. Many thanks to all the wonderful people of Prescott Pines Mobile Home Resort. Most notably Nancy Teeter and her crew, Mary Gartland, Karen Baker, Rhonda Ross, Deborah Madrid; and his good friend and pool playing buddy Dennis; and his other Prescott Pines neighbors. Kerry was preceded in death by his grandfather Perley Shelton, who he loved very much and who was killed in a construction accident when Kerry was small; his grandfather Bill Boekenkamp, who taught him how to fish in Missouri; his grandmothers, Glennie Boekenkamp and Nelma Shelton, who lived nearby in Greeley, Colorado for many years; and by his beloved mother, Deloris Jean (Shelton) Boekenkamp, who passed away at 48 of pancreatic cancer, leaving an immeasurable void in Kerry's life and in the lives of family and friends. Kerry is survived by his "Buddy" and father Robert L. Boekenkamp; his loving stepmother Mary Ann Oren of Sun City, Arizona; and his devoted sisters, Jeannie Boekenkamp of Spanaway, Washington and Tracy Boekenkamp of Oceanside, California, who managed his care in Prescott from 2009. He is also survived and missed by his many Prescott friends and many California friends, particularly Matt Stepien and Mario Sardon who would visit Kerry yearly in Prescott, Arizona. Menke Funeral Home of Sun City, Arizona was in charge of arrangements. A private family service will occur at a later date and ashes will be returned to rest beside his mother in Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Stroke Association, American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Information provided by survivors.