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Welden 'Laverne' McKissen

Image of Welden McKissen
Birth Date: November 4, 1940
Death Date: November 4, 2011
Age at Death: 71

Marriages

Judy Rhyme - 1962

Darlene Louise Stassen - June 22, 1984

Burial Details

Cemetery Name: Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado
Cemetery Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Mortuary Name: Callahan-Edfast Mortuary

Obituaries

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B - November 8, 2011

Welden Laverne McKissen,
71, Grand Junction, died
Nov. 4, 2011, in Grand Junction.
Mr. McKissen was an optician.
Services will be at 1 p.m.
Thursday at Callhan-Edfast
Mortuary, with interment at
3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial
Cemetery of Western Colorado.
Survivors include his wife,
Darleen Louise; three sons,
Rick McKissen of Grand Junction,
Ron Rhyne of Cora, Wyo.,
and Mark Rhyne of Hollywood,
Calif.; two daughters, Karla
Coleman and Julie Kochevar,
both of Grand Junction; his
mother, Lorene R. McKissen;
and eight grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to
Hospice & Palliative Care of
Western Colorado, 3090B N.
12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Notice - November 8, 2011

Welden “Laverne”
McKissen
November 4, 1940 – November 4, 2011
Laverne McKissen passed away
on Friday, November 4, 2011 on
his 71st birthday after a short stay
at Hospice and Palliative Care of
Western Colorado.
Laverne was born on November
4, 1940 to Welden Hoyt and
Lorene Vanlandingham McKissen
in Grand Junction, Colorado. He graduated from Grand Junction
High School in 1958 where he was a member of the wrestling
team. Upon graduation from high school he joined the U.S. Navy as
a "kidee cruiser". He was a store keeper and during his enlistment he
deployed on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the aircraft carrier,
U.S.S. Forrestal.
In 1962, he married Judy Rhyne in Grand Junction, Colorado. To
that union four children were born. The marriage ended in divorce.
On June 22, 1984, he married Darleen Stassen in Grand Junction,
Colorado and adopted her son Rick McKissen.
Laverne was a true family man and cherished times with family
and friends. He always found the positive in every situation. He
loved spending time on the Grand Mesa at the family cabin fishing.
He enjoyed bowling, trips to Las Vegas, cars and reading. He cherished
his time with his grandchildren.
In 1964 he moved to Denver, Colorado to train as an optician. He
then returned to Grand Junction where he worked for Darnell Optical
for many years. He had the opportunity to purchase his own optical
companies: McKissen Optical, Century Optique, and Eyeworks
which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2004. He
was a fellow in good standing of the National Academy of Opticianry
since July of 1977. He became one of a select group of Master
Opticians in Colorado in 1988.
He was a member of the Methodist Church, the Elks and Moose
Lodges.
Laverne is survived by his wife, Darleen McKissen; his mother,
Lorene McKissen; his children, Karla (Gene) Coleman and their
children, Tyler, Jennifer and Curtis; Julie Kochevar and her children,
Matt Monger and Ryan Elsberry; Ron (Lisa) Rhyne and their
son, Landon; Mark Rhyne; and Rick McKissen and his daughter,
Rileigh and stepson, Tanner Denton. He is also survived by a large
extended family and his beloved pets.
He was preceded in death by his father, his brother, Ray McKissen
and his sister, Bonita Johnson.
Funeral services for Laverne will be held on Thursday, November
10, 2011 at 1 p.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 F. Road,
Grand Junction, Colorado. Internment will be at the Veteran's Memorial
Cemetery following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative
Care of Western Colorado.
You were truly a great man! Rest in peace, we will love you forever

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