September 9, 1929 — December 10, 2023
Edward Richard Kellenberger died peacefully at home in Boulder, Colorado on December 10, 2023, he was 94. Ed was an only child and is survived by his children Greg (Dana), Maple Plain, Minnesota, Tom (Lynn), Boulder, Colorado, Dave (Celeste), Arvada, Colorado and Ann, Longmont, Colorado. Ed is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ed was born in Davenport, Iowa to Edward and Johanna Kellenberger. He attended Davenport High School and graduated from Iowa State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He met his wife, Jessica, also at Iowa State and they were married in June 1951. Ed served in the US Air Force from 1951-1953 and spent one of those years serving as a radio communications mechanic in the Korean “peacekeeping action” (Daegu Air Force Base, Daegu, Korea). After his time in the Air Force, Ed and Jessica moved to West Texas. Ed began work as a Field Engineer for Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation, in the oil and gas fields of the Permian Basin from 1953-1961.
At the age of 31, with a wife and 3 young boys (Jessica was tired of the wind, flat land and moving every 18 months), he changed course and entered law school receiving his LL.B. (Bachelor of Law) degree in 1963 from the University of Texas, Austin. He then moved his family to Boulder, CO to begin this new law career. In 1964, Ed and Jessica’s daughter Ann was born, and Ed’s parents moved from Iowa to Boulder to spend time with Ed and his family.
Ed began working with the law firm of Newcomer & Douglass and would remain there for 20 years. The firm’s offices were located on the Boulder Mall at Broadway and Pearl before the Pearl Street Mall (walking mall) was built. He walked to and from work every day and even walked home for lunch and a quick nap, before heading back to the office - unusual in this day and age! He enjoyed this simpler life. Ed was considered by colleagues to be a “gentlemanly lawyer” who set the standard for being a true “counselor” of the law. His sincerity, graciousness, intelligence, and sense of humor were appreciated by his clients and colleagues. He was truly an “attorney for all seasons” to all the clients he served over the years. Ed continued to practice law with various firms (four years with Caplan and Earnest) until he became a solo practitioner in 1989 and continued to be “of counsel”, with Hurth, Sisk, and Blakemore. He began to slowly retire over the next decade. He specialized in real estate, banking, tax, and estate planning.
Ed had many interests, including volunteering with the Boy Scouts when his boys were young, backpacking with the family in Colorado and Wyoming, travel, and of course a good (sometimes lively) discussion on politics, history, and economic issues. Ed and Jessica offered their home to International Students and traveled on occasion to visit those special people with whom they established lifelong relationships. Ed was a voracious reader and especially enjoyed history. He also served the Boulder community on the Boulder Valley School District board from 1969-1973, board member of Boulder County Legal Services, Historic Boulder Incorporation, the Presbyterian Manor, as well as a member of Kiwanis, Boulder Historical Society, and First Presbyterian Church. Ed and his wife Jessica also enjoyed the Boulder Dinner Dance club where they regularly dressed in formal attire and danced the night away.
After Jessica’s passing in June 1995, Ed married Jane Gill in August 1996. Jane is survived by Stan (Lucia), Boulder, Colorado, Betsy, Boulder, Colorado and 2 grandchildren. Ed and Jane eventually moved to Flatirons Terrace and were surrounded by new family and friends there. They enjoyed 15 years together before Jane’s passing in March of 2011.
Ed’s life will be remembered by family and friends as one of generosity, humor, and sound advice. He will be greatly missed by those he has touched both personally and professionally. A private family graveside service will be held. Charitable donations can be made to Meal on Wheels, Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, The Amana Arts Guild (Iowa), or EFAA.
