In Honor & Remembrance

Raleigh Gene MacKinnon passed peacefully in his sleep at home early Monday morning, February 14, 2022, from a very rare and aggressive cancer. On March 4, 1946, in Rifle, Colorado Gene was the younger half of the identical twin set born to Richard and Edna MacKinnon. A couple of months later the MacKinnon family moved back to the Wetmore area. Gene attended the Florence Schools graduating from Florence High School in 1964. At the age of 15, he began working on the John Yellico Ranch farming wheat, corn, and alfalfa and tending the livestock. As a young adult, he began running cattle of his own. 1975 was a transition year for him leaving the farming and ranching way of life he knew from birth. In February he moved his young family into Florence, and he went to work for Ralph Carestia driving semi-trucks. On April 2, 1975, Gene joined the Florence Volunteer Fire Department and on September 8, 1975, he was hired at Ideal Cement where he worked until retiring on February 21, 2013. Growing up in a farming and ranching family he was experienced in the on-the-job training of heavy equipment and large awkward vehicles which served him well as he performed his duties at either the Cement Plant or the Fire Department becoming certified to operate the large equipment. Gene later retired from the Florence Volunteer Fire Department as its Chief of 22 years, an office he held from February 4, 1992, until December 5, 2017, and from the Florence Fire Protection District as its Chief of 22 years also on the same date only to be reinstated as "retired active" until the time of his death. Forty-seven days short of 47 years of volunteer service for his community with the Florence Fire Protection District. During the layoff period in 1987 at Ideal Cement, Gene once again drove semi-trucks hauling coal to New Mexico for his friend, Ralph Carestia. He also enjoyed hunting having once placed a cougar in the Boone & Crocket Record Book. The definition of "Volunteer" in Webster's Dictionary fit Gene his whole life whether he was helping a fellow farmer or rancher with a project, a neighbor, or in his role as a volunteer fireman. "A volunteer gives of his own free will" and Gene never said no to any person or situation. He would put in his shift at his job and then go to the aid of those in need-any time of the day or night-no matter how tired he was or what plan he might have had for himself. His fellow man came first. Gene never said NO! On June 14, 1969, Gene married Gayle Palmer in Florence who survives.

Gregory Lee Gatzke, a longtime resident of Penrose CO, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49 on March 31, 2021. Greg was born November 13, 1971 in Orange, CA to Gary and Eileen Gatzke. At the early age of 12, Greg's mechanical life was born. He would help his families automotive repair shop in Florence, CO and this passion continued throughout his life. In 1990, Greg was the rack & wheel vehicle mechanic with the U.S. Army. He learned to be a heavy equipment mechanic with the Anaconda Job Corp in 1995 and 1996. For the past 16 years, Greg was an emergency vehicle technician at Fort Carson. In 2018, Greg and Kember started their amazing love story and became husband and wife on June 20, 2020. Greg's compassion and love for his community prompted him to join the Penrose Fire Department in 2011 as a fire fighter and EMT. Greg continued in the ranks reaching Assistant Chief in 2020. 

Mike ‘Scrappy’ Lynch was one of the best Firefighters that Penrose Fire Department has ever had. He had only been a member for eight months at the time of his death.

He obtained the nickname ‘Scrappy’ because he was always revved up and ready to go. It did not matter if it was the usual 2AM medical call or a fully involved structure fire. Mike was always excited and able to put a smile on everybody’s face.

Mike played a valuable role in the community of Penrose. He was among a group of four or five guys that successfully started an annual Pancake breakfast that is held during our town’s annual ‘Apple Day’ celebration. Scrappy was also very dedicated to helping with fire prevention week at the local elementary school.

Scrappy left behind a wonderful wife‚ two great kids and too many friends to mention. During the summer of 2004‚ the officers of Penrose Volunteer Fire Department presented the award for ‘Firefighter of the Year’ to Mike’s wife Christine in memory of Scrappy’s outstanding service and dedication to the community. A small memorial has been built at the Penrose fire station to remind us of the great hero we lost that cold February Day and also to remind us that although Scrappy isn’t here with us today‚ his legacy will live on in the heart of Penrose Volunteer Fire Department forever.