Chris Thomas Acklam

Chris was born to Alice and Thomas Acklam in Racine, Wisconsin (a descendant of the Menominee Indian tribe) and grew up in Boulder and in Brighton, Colorado.  He was the middle child among five children with an older sister and brother and two younger brothers (Karen, Clarence, Chris, Curt, & Carl).  Chris was very close to his family and enjoyed spending time with them.  He joined the U.S. Army at 17 years of age and quickly excelled with outstanding performance and a special assignment in the Black Forest in Germany protecting missiles from our foreign adversaries.   He commanded an envoy of troops due to his mature and dedicated attitude for service.  His bond with his “Army buddies” is deep and forever.     

His brother, Clarence, introduced Chris to the love of his life, Dorothy who was captured by his gregarious and fun personality not to mention his good looks.  With this marriage, he fathered two daughters, Charity and Tameria and a son, Christopher.  

A foundation of their marriage was certainly laughter through the hard and wonderful times together.  They enjoyed a constant stream of family and friends stopping out at the farm in Henderson, Colorado during the weekends with instant parties starting on Friday nights.  On their first wedding anniversary, Chris presented Dorothy with a white horned goat, Petunia, who enjoyed parties as well.

Soon Chris started a farm filled with goats, pigs (from the Elitches amusement park), cows, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, dogs, etc. Chris often took in animals that needed a loving home.  Chris also loved water skiing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, trucking, carpentry, mechanics, horse riding, junking cars, collecting/refurbishing antiques, teaching others, and the list goes on.  He also enjoyed helping his beloved son, Christopher, with his steel fabrication business and worked side by side with him everyday before his son suddenly passed in June, 2014.   

As a person, Chris carried a strong can-do work ethic while coining “pay attention” and “soldier on” in his life.  He defined “giving the shirt off your back” to others and had a heart bigger than himself - always helping people and animals.  He will be forever fondly remembered.  

Chris is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and his two daughters, Charity (Virginia) and Tameria (Colorado). His son-in-law, Glenn, and his grandchildren, Hunter (14), Colvin (13), and Ava (9) (Virginia). Also, his dearly beloved dogs, Steel, Dubbs, and Tucker.  

Chris now joins his deeply missed son, Christopher, in heaven.  Chris also joins his siblings, Curt and Karen along with Rhonda and Bo as well as his parents, Tom and Alice.    

Chris hand wrote this poem to keep in his wallet and would often read this poem to his wife, Dorothy:  

Up to her chamber window

Up to her chamber window,

A slight wire trellis goes,

And up this Romeo's ladder

Clambers a bold white rose.

I lounge in the ilex shadows,

I see the lady lean,

Unclasping her silken girdle,

The curtain's folds between.

She smiles on her white-rose lover,

She reaches out her hand

And helps him in at the window --

I see it where I stand!

To her scarlet lip she holds him,

And kisses him many a time

Ah me! it was he that won her

Because he dared to climb!

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