Kenneth Rowe Obituary

Durango resident Kenneth Gene Rowe died at his home from complications of cancer on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. He was 63.

Known as “Kenny," he was born to Edgar and Marguerite Rowe in Durango on Nov. 24, 1946. His grandfather, David

Griffith, was a retired surgeon from the Civil War who was the first to homestead in the Falfa area in the 1870s.

Mr. Rowe grew up in Durango and graduated from Durango High School in 1964.

Mr. Rowe served in the Army as an airplane maintenance technician/crew chief from 1964 to 1967, first in Fort Lewis,

Wash., and then in Fort Rucker, Ala.

He earned his Airframe and Powerplant License at Colorado Aero Tech in Denver. He worked at Sky Choppers Inc. in

Durango as a helicopter field technician from 1970 to 1972. Mr. Rowe moved to Provo, Utah, as director of maintenance

for Sky Choppers, where he maintained a fleet of 25 helicopters and support equipment.

In 1976, Mr. Rowe worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Boise, Idaho, and worked on fire suppression for the

Department of the Interior.

While living in Denver, Mr. Rowe began working as a senior regional technical representative for American Eurocopter

Corp. in 1978, where he provided field direction, supervision, audits and technical assistance to the company's

customer service technical support network. He was involved in marketing at major international sales conventions.

After leaving the company in 1996, Mr. Rowe was self-employed in major and pre-buy inspections on AS 350 Series

helicopters.

From 2000 until the time of his death, Mr. Rowe was the maintenance technical manager for New Air Helicopter LLC in

Durango. He specialized in Bell helicopter inspections, safety and program evaluations.

His career allowed him to travel extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Rowe earned several Federal Aviation

Administration and state awards for outstanding service and contributions to the field of aviation maintenance.

“Mr. Rowe was recognized as a leader in all aspects of the aviation industry," his family wrote, “and reveled in his

lifelong career."

On July 29, 1967, he married Colleen Trimble in Durango. The marriage ended in divorce in 1981.

On Feb. 14, 1999, Mr. Rowe married Debbie (Sittner) Loos in Durango.

His hobbies included boating, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, horse-pack trips, motorcycle riding and classic car

restoration.

“Kenny will be deeply missed by family and friends for his outgoing personality and sense of humor," his family

wrote. “He was extremely patriotic and was a true inspiration to his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren

adored him and affectionately called him 'PaPa Ken.'"

Mr. Rowe is survived by his wife of 10 years, Debbie Rowe, of Durango; son, Dusty Rowe, of Westminster; daughter,

Wendy Rowe, of Westminster; stepchildren Sonya Meador and Justin Loos, both of Durango; sister, Audrey Newberry, of

Westminster; brother, Gordon Rowe, of Vail; two grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and numerous nieces and

nephews.

A memorial service luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, at New Air Helicopters, 120 Tail Dragger

Lane at Animas Air Park in Durango. Private graveside services will be held at Greenmount Cemetery after the memorial

service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1800 East Third Ave., Suite

101, Durango, CO 81301.