James Joseph Kleckner

Colonel James J. Kleckner (Jim, JJ, or the Colonel) loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many, took his last flight on August 25, 2024 at the age of 93 in Arvada, Colorado. He was born May 6, 1931.
Colonel Kleckner is preceded in death by his wife Carol Smedstad KIeckner (April 2, 1994), his parents Ernest Joseph Kleckner and Florence Fox Kleckner, and eight brothers and sisters.
He is survived by two siblings Bernice Paulson of Osage, Iowa and William Kleckner of Madison, WI.; four children Kathryn Kleckner Roark (spouse William E. Roark) of Colorado Springs, CO, James J. Kleckner Jr. (spouse Stacy Rovinelli Kleckner) of Edwards, CO, Jana Kleckner Henderson (spouse Kevin Henderson) of Evergreen, CO, and John P. Kleckner (spouse Lynnette Heibert Kleckner) of Golden, CO as well as 10 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
Born and raised on a farm in St. Ansgar Iowa, Jim was the second youngest of 11 brothers and sisters. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1949, and attended Loras College in Iowa, as well as the USAF Air War College.
Jim's love of the air began at 16 flying light aircraft. This love grew further one summer when at 17, he and a high school friend flew a Taylorcraft light airplane from Iowa to California and back. They found various jobs along the way, which included work constructing Colorado's Granby Dam.
Not surprisingly, Jim signed up for the Air Force's Aviation Cadet Program and marveled at the increase in performance that the training aircraft, the T-6 Texan and T-33 Shooting Star, offered above his light aircraft days. He graduated from advanced flight training as a freshly minted 2nd Lieutenant in 1953 and began a distinguished military career that spanned nearly 30 years. Much of his career was spent as a fighter pilot and flew the F-84, F-86, F-102, F-104, and F-106, with a stint in a French Mirage, accumulating over 5000 hours in military aircraft. He was stationed all over the US, including four overseas assignments, flew combat in Vietnam, and held positions as the 460th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Commander, and Base Commander at Thule Air Force Base in Greenland.
Shortly after graduating from Aviation Cadets, during a long train ride from Seattle to Minneapolis during the holidays, a beautiful blue-eyed kindergarten teacher caught the attention of Lt. Kleckner. The chance meeting of the love of his life led to marriage one year later in 1954. Carol and Jim's whirlwind romance led to a whirlwind life involving 14 moves and 29 homes.
The Colonel retired from the Air Force in 1980, worked for Martin Marietta and other defense contractors until the late 1980's, then fully retired to life in the Vail Valley with Carol in early 1990's, and a new chapter in his life after Carol's passing a few years later. Retirement was not in his cards, he held several jobs with Vail Resort, including driving a snowmobile while providing night security on Vail Mountain. He contemplated becoming a ski instructor, but astutely concluded he would not have the patience for it. He began volunteering as a Vail Mountain host in the Mid 1990's, initially because it provided a free ski pass, but continued over the next twenty plus years because he cherished the comradery and friendships he made with the other volunteers. During these years he rated his ski season by how many days he got on the slopes. His record was over 100, and regularly had 50 plus days into his late 80's.
Although he spent his last year in a senior living community near Golden, Colorado, for 29 years the home for him was in Minturn, Colorado along the banks of the Eagle River. He served on the Minturn City Council for several years, as well as the board of his condo association. He was a dedicated volunteer for the Colorado Trail Foundation for nearly 25 years where he helped build and maintain trails 1 – 2 weeks a summer, frequently joined by his good Air Force friends Roger Gomas and Grady Monk, and often recruited his children and grandchildren to work alongside him. JJ, as his Air Force buddies called him, shared many other great adventures during Alaska fishing trips and Colorado elk and pheasant hunts.
Life for Jim in retirement did not slow down. He constantly seeked new challenges and adventures, and opportunities to volunteer. In his 60's, he trained as a white-water rafting guide and joined a group averaging less than half his age to raft Africa's Zambezi River, with a bungee jump from one of the world's tallest bridges along the way; and crewing 60 ft sailboat across the Atlantic. In his 70's, he sky dived and was still thrilled by deep powder runs in Vails back bowls and during Heli trips in the Canadian Rockies. In his 80's he continued volunteering on the Talon Crew during World Cup races at Beaver Creek and was an alpine skiing gate judge at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. A common exclamation among new acquaintances was "How old is he?!!" He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10721 in the Vail Valley, and always enjoyed driving his red convertible in the Vail 4th of July parade; and was a frequent volunteer usher at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.
Jim had a tireless commitment to family. The rock and foundation of his family until his death, he continuously initiated family gatherings and adventures and went out of his way to maintain contact with siblings, nieces, and nephews. In addition to his extensive family, Jim's deep Catholic faith kept him well grounded throughout his life. His endless energy, boisterous and positive spirit, humor, appreciation for a good argument, and love for entertaining will be missed by many.
Funeral mass to be held September 21, 2024 in Avon, CO at the Beaver Creek Chapel, 33 Elk Track Rd, (near the base of Beaver Creek ski resort) at 2:00 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life reception at the Coyote Cafe, 210 The Plaza, Beaver Creek (walking distance from the Chapel) from 3:00 – 5:30 pm. See below for details.
Military Committal will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO Monday, September 23, 2024 at 12:30 pm (please arrive 15 min early), offsite reception to follow.