Karl Nicholas Kyle, longtime Telluride ski patroller and Vietnam veteran, photographed in February with his grandson, Austin Blake, age 3. Kyle died unexpectedly on May 31 at his Hillside home. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
His parents were Jim and Evelyn (Howard) Kyle, formerly of Cortez.
Nick graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1967. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy, where he served two tours in Vietnam as a Seabee. He went to work for the future Telluride Ski Area after his discharge, clearing the mountain and building trails and the lifts. He was a professional ski patrolman at Telluride for 33 years. Nick was an avid golfer and was looking forward to a summer of playing when he finished his latest building project. His young grandchildren were the light of his life.
He is survived by his wife Joanie, of Telluride; his mother, Evelyn Kyle; his Aunt Dorothy Howard, of Grand Junction; his daughters, Amber (Dave) Blake of Durango, and Angie (Rich) Hynes of Sarasota, Fla. He was “Poppa” to his beloved grandchildren, Austin and Alexa Blake and Mia and Liam Nicholas Hynes. He is survived by sisters Sandra (Frank) Pyle and Mari Martin of Dolores, and his brother Jim Kyle of Clifton. Also surviving are his nieces and nephews, for whom “Uncle Nick” was a hero, and many good friends. His father and his nephew, Rick Russell, preceded him in death.
According to his wishes, Nick has been cremated. A mass will be said at St Patrick’s Church in Telluride Saturday, June 4, at 9 a.m. A memorial potluck – please bring desserts or salads - will be held at the Ridge Club on Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Nick Kyle Memorial Scholarship Fund at Alpine Bank.
In our struggle just to get by
Many times the burden's been heavy
Still we carried on side by side
And when we're gone long gone
The only thing that will have mattered
Is the love that we shared
And the way that we cared
When we're gone, long gone
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