Donald Dean Keirns

Donald Dean Keirns, 87, of Loveland, Colorado, passed peacefully on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

He was born to Willis Keirns and Maude Banks on September 22, 1936, in Woodston, Kansas. He graduated from Woodston High School in 1954, and after high school, he started working in residential construction.

In 1957, when work began to slow in Kansas, he moved to Loveland, Colorado. Don liked to frequent the local A&W; it was there where he met a carhop named Wanda Foss. Wanda and Don were married on June 21, 1959, and they raised six children.

Don served in the Army from 1959 to 1961 and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While in the Army, Don would do small construction jobs to ensure he wouldn't "lose his touch." After the Army, Don, Wanda, and their infant son Bob moved back to Loveland, where Don pursued his love of building things. Over the years, his projects included picture frames, playhouses for the grandkids, custom homes, and large masonry buildings.

Back from the Army, Don started working for a local stone mason, which is when he mastered the art of laying stone and brick. On June 1, 1962, at the age of 26, Don and Wanda started Don's Masonry, Inc., a masonry business still operating today. While very successful in the masonry field, Don expanded into general contracting.

On January 1, 1969, Don and Wanda started Keirns Construction Company, where he displayed his many skills in all construction phases. Over the years, Don has built or remodeled hundreds of homes, and Keirns Construction Company continues to build quality homes in the Loveland area. Doing a job with honesty and integrity was of utmost importance to Don. During Don's more active years, he was involved with the Northern Colorado Home Builders Association and the Larimer County REACT Club, and he served on numerous committees and boards of the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Don, Dad, Grandpa, Papa Don was a person of few words, but you could always feel his love, gentleness, and kindness. He was not someone who said "goodbye." instead, he would end a conversation with "Later."

He was preceded in death by his son Robert D. Keirns and son-in-law George William (Bill) Stanford.

Survivors include his wife, Wanda (Foss); sons Mike (Carrie), Dave (Donna), and Randy (Terri) Keirns; and daughter-in-law Nancy Keirns (Robert); daughters Dawn (Lance) Steinbeck, and Dana Stanford (Ray Cumpston); 25 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 10:30 am, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Loveland, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.