Ken Hatcliff

Kenneth Wayne Hatcliff was born August 23, 1925 in Carleton, Nebraska, the first and only son of Ray Hatcliff and Martha Oswald. Ken attended the Carleton schools until his graduation May 1943. He attended summer school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln; registered for the draft in August and was sent to Omaha for an induction physical in November, 1943. He was trained as a Hospital Corpsman and in April 1944 was ordered to report to Fleet Marine Force at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California where he then entered into the Marine training program for overseas duty. He served with the Marines 1st Division as a surgical nurse and eventually a front line corpsman in Okinawa and China. He was discharged in June of 1946. He was awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Ken returned to the University of Nebraska in September 1946 and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in business Administration. During that time he met Jean Cane and they married in August 1948.

Ken enjoyed a career as an insurance adjuster and was assigned to various cities before settling down in Denver in 1965. After several years he established KENCO Insurance Company and completed his career as an independent adjuster. He retired in 1990.

He served on the Honor Guard with the First Marine Division and enjoyed the camaraderie at meetings, picnics, and dinners. He also volunteered at the Veterans Hospital helping with the canine therapy. He has been a member of the China, Burma, India Veterans Association since l967. He has served as Chaplain and as the Basha Commander. Ken is a lifetime member of the American Legion. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the clown interbody of the El Jebel Shrine. He was an avid football fan and a member of the exuberant Nebraska football fan club – a lot of good cheer and good cheering.

Ken enjoyed dancing and squared danced until his hearing and knees gave out. He and Jean played tennis, rode bikes, played bridge, skied for many years He loved to hike, camp and fish. He thoroughly enjoyed golf did quite a lot of traveling.

Ken is survived by his wife Jean, son Jeffrey, daughter Nancy (Mark) Mullen and two wonderful grandchildren, Nicolle and Mathew.

A Celebration of Life will be held on December 3, 2005 at Arvada United Methodist Church beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Memorials may be designated in Kens name to:
Denver Teachers Club
990 Glenco St.
Denver, CO 80220
303.377.0222

Dumb Friends League
2050 S. Quebec St
Denver, CO 80231
303.696.4941