Ronald Lee Kenny

Ronald Lee Kenny 61 of Lakewood Colorado passed away November 30, 2025.

Ronald Lee Kenny was born on June 3, 1961, to Terry and Anita (Hardman) Kenny. After the age of 11, he was raised in Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado alongside his brother Tom and sister Angie. Those canyon years shaped him. This is where Ron fell in love with the outdoors, adventure, and the quiet magic of nature. He could walk for miles without a destination, noticing details most people missed. That love of nature stayed with him for life.

 Ron graduated from Nederland High School in 1979, where he competed on the ski team and in pole vaulting. Skiing remained one of his great loves well into his 40s, and he never lost that love for adventure and the outdoors. He went on to study at Western State College and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Ron first married Janet Lawson and later married Catherine Arias in 1987. Together they welcomed his son, Shaun Kenny, who was the absolute center of his world. Ron was endlessly proud of Shaun and never missed a chance to talk about him, his accomplishments, his character, or simply who he was as a person.

 In 2009, Ron met the love of his life, Jill Cunningham. They married in 2021 and built a joyful, adventurous life together filled with laughter, travel, friendship, and deep love. Ron adored Jill and loved traveling by her side, always ready to explore somewhere new or say yes to the next adventure. Together they created a beautiful blended family with Jill’s daughters, Marissa and Kallie, whom Ron loved as his own. 

Ron was a proud and devoted "Pa" to his four grandchildren, Brooks, Ezra, Bennett, and Eva. He could not get enough of them. Time with Pa meant wrestling on the floor, endless water play, laughs that echoed, and memories that will last a lifetime. They adored him, and he adored them right back. 

Ron dedicated his career to serving others as a firefighter. He began in March 1985 in Fire Prevention for the City of Longmont, served with Englewood Fire, and then joined the Longmont Fire Department in February 1988. There he rose through the ranks, serving as an Engineer and Lieutenant until his retirement in October 2021. Ron was steady, calm, and dependable. The kind of firefighter you wanted beside you when things got hard.

 He had a classic love/hate relationship with golf, a deep passion for music, and a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed jeep rides on the beach at Lake McConaughy, the water and being with his loved ones. Ron loved to dance, even if the moves were questionable. He loved to travel and had a deep respect for people and cultures everywhere he went. His adventures took him to Costa Rica (his happy place), Portugal, the Azores, and beyond. He believed the world was meant to be explored. Ron had a deep love for the ocean. He was never happier than when he was near the water. If it was there, he was already halfway in!

 Ron will be remembered as incredibly generous, the kind of man who would go without so someone else didn’t have to. He was a fixer, a problem solver, and the person you called when something broke or when life felt messy. He had a dry sense of humor, a big heart, and a quiet way of showing love through action. He loved hard and was loved beyond measure.

 Ron is survived by his parents, Anita and Terry Kenny; his brother Tom (Sonya) Kenny; his sister Angie Kenny; his wife Jill Kenny, who loved him deeply; his son Shaun (Samantha) Kenny; his daughters Marissa (Ian) McFadden; Kallie (Zach) Bowyer; and his grandchildren Brooks and Bennett McFadden and Ezra and Eva Bowyer. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews, their wives, and one great niece. 

Ron left us on November 30, 2025. He will be remembered as someone who lived fully, loved deeply, joked often, and was always up for the next adventure. He leaves behind a family who adored him and a legacy of kindness, service, and love that will never fade.

 We will celebrate Ron and his legacy on January 3, 2026 at the Bella Sera Event Center (45 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601) from 11am-3pm.

 In honor of Ron, please consider a donation to Foundation 1023, a non-profit prioritizing mental health for first responders. https://www.foundation1023.org/giving-page