Gordon Menno Kaan

Gordon Menno Kaan

Gordon Kaan, of Mason, Texas, passed away at his home on April 20, 2008 at the age of 85.

He was born July 22, 1922 in Lusk, Wyoming to Menno Cornelius Kaan and Mabel Butler Kaan. He grew up and went to school in Lusk, living and working on the homestead ranch his parents settled when they emigrated from Holland. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and was stationed in Iran at a large logistics base where he worked with the Lend/Lease program, providing supplies and equipment to our allies. While in the Army, he was also stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State where he met Dorothy Cherry. He was discharged from the Army in August of 1945 and on Sept. 23, 1945 he and Dorothy were married. They returned to the family ranch in Wyoming where he raised Angus cattle and also farmed corn, barley and alfalfa, selling much of the barley to Coors.

Gordon and Dorothy were blessed with four children. He was an active member of the Lion's Club, Odd Fellows and the Republican Party. He was also on the school board in Lusk for many years. After his first heart bypass surgery, he sold the ranch and retired. He and Dorothy bought a recreational vehicle and traveled the country for a number of years. In 2001, they moved to Mason where he and their son, Keith, restored the home where he and Dorothy lived. While in Mason, Gordon stayed active restoring antique furniture and doing various carpentry and woodworking projects.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and by one daughter, Sandy Kaan. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Kaan of Mason; two sons: Keith Kaan and wife Sue of Mason and Terry Kaan and wife Sande of Cheyenne; one daughter, Lauralee Lucke and husband Duane of Scotts Bluff, Neb.; one brother, Cecil Kaan of Lusk; and two sisters: Shirley Wallace of California and Bonnie Thomas and husband Ralph of Arizona. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Andi Parker of Fort Worth, Texas; Jason Kaan of Bath, N.D.; Becky Johnson of Lockhart, Texas; Mindy LeBlond of Washington, D.C.; Melissa Tabor of Minneapolis, Minn.; Kathy Jacobs of Gering, Neb.; and Ann Lucke of Fort Collins, Colo. as well as by nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in Lusk at a later time. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.masonfuneralhome.net.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.

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