John Bruce Carpenter, age 74, died Monday, November 1, 2010 at his home near Nekoma, Kansas. Born August 18, 1936 in Gunnison, Colorado the son of Bruce and Mildred (Lynch) Carpenter. John was a lifetime resident of the Gunnison, Colorado area until he moved to Kansas 11 years ago because of his health. He was a heavy equipment operator for the state and county road maintenance department. He was a member of the Lyons Club, Shawnee, Colorado and a United States Navy Veteran. John was an avid horseman.
He married Joy Templeton in 1956 to this marriage came three children. He later married Carolyn S. Arb on December 22, 1981 in Gunnison, Colorado. She survives of the home. Other survivors include: two sons: Bruce and his wife Tina, Bailey, Colorado, David and his wife Susan, Shawnee, Colorado; one daughter: Joette Riley and her husband Rick, Littleton, Colorado; step-son: Rusty Riley; Step daughter: Robin Oakes and Clark Denley, Federal Heights, Colorado; Tina Killinen; one sister: Jeannie Lancaster, Alamosa, Colorado; 8 grandchildren: Michelle and her husband Andre, Valerie and her husband Brandon, Matthew, Christina, John, and Russell; 6 great-grandchildren and 5 Step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Joann Osburn and stepson, Randy Riley.
Memorial visitation will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 from 10 am until noon with the family present. Graveside inurnment in the Gunnison Cemetery on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 1:00 pm with military graveside rites by Robert A. Watters American Legion Post No. 54, Gunnison, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be given to the DeBakey Heart Center, Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Ness City, Kansas 67560.