Stephen Andrew Rangel

Stephen Andrew Rangel, 62, died unexpectedly at his home on the morning of July 12, 2026 in Conifer, Colorado.

He was born in Denver on June 5th 1964 to Shirley and Robert Rangel. Steve graduated from Thornton High School before going on to study political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating in 1986. His military career began with Air Force ROTC in college and continued with ten years of active service in the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly earned the rank of Major, served as a flight instructor, and completed several overseas deployments. After joining the reserves, he met his wife, Kathleen, while the two were completing their Master's degrees at the University of Texas at Austin. Following graduation, they moved to Keller, Texas, where they raised their children. Steve went on to work for 17 years at American Airlines before becoming a small business owner, providing childcare for families throughout North Texas. He moved back to his home state of Colorado with his wife in 2024.

From the beginning, Steve lived a life marked by curiosity and determination. He worked hard every day, not only to achieve his own dreams, but to support everyone around him, becoming the rock of his family as a loving son, brother, father, and husband. He shared 25 wonderful years of marriage with his wife, with whom he traveled all over the world.

He treasured the outdoors, whether he was hiking in Patagonia or walking his beloved dogs in the mountains of Colorado. He was also a dedicated Broncos and Buffs fan, and he had an insatiable desire to learn, always enjoying discussions and books about current events, politics, and history.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his children, Andrew, Alexis, Robbie, and Sophia; his parents, Robert and Shirley; his siblings, Roman and Roberta, along with their children; his niece Vanessa and her fiancé, Aron, along with their children; his niece Danielle and her children; and his dogs Willow, Aspen, and Luke.

His funeral service will be held on July 22, 2026 at 12:00pm at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, Colorado. He will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery. He was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.