Keith & Julane Arfsten

Keith Arfsten

February 19th, 1946- November 9th, 2020

Keith Eugene Arfsten was born on February 19, 1946, in Limon, Colorado, to Raymond and Mary Arfsten. He was the fifth of six children and the youngest of the well-known “Arfsten Boys” from Limon. Keith was a standout athlete during his school years, wrestling and playing football before graduating from Limon High School in 1964. Over the course of his life, he worked many jobs, but would often say his two main careers were “Coors and training horses.” Keith devoted 47 years to the Adolph Coors Company, making him the longest-serving employee at the time of his retirement in 2016. Throughout his tenure, he worked in various departments but spent the majority of his time in the brewhouse, ultimately serving as ‘Leadman’ of the brewery. Alongside his brewing career, Keith had a lifelong love for horses. He trained racehorses and, later in life, raised horses and proudly showed them at the Denver Stock Show. Keith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, and his health declined over the following years. He passed away on November 9, 2020.

Julane Arfsten

June 7th, 1942- February 18th, 2025

Julane Delorice Simon was born on June 7, 1942, to Edward “Doc” and Iva Simon. She was the fourth of six surviving children. Growing up in Limon, Julane and her family were well-known in the rodeo world, especially for their passion and talent. Barrel racing was Julane’s event of choice, and she was proud to be part of the family known in rodeo circles as the “Simons from Limon.” Her professional journey began at the local A&W restaurant in Limon, but her true calling came in the world of racehorses. Julane became a respected quarter horse trainer, competing primarily on the Centennial race circuit. When the local race scene began to decline, she turned her attention to another passion—dogs. Julane ran a successful dog breeding kennel for many years. At times, she cared for more than 30 dogs, raising and selling thousands of puppies throughout her career. She closed her kennel in 2015. Julane spent her final years battling dementia and passed away in a nursing home on February 18, 2025.

 Their Life Together

Keith and Julane’s story began in high school in Limon, Colorado. They married in 1963 and soon welcomed their first child, Brian Keith, on August 14, 1964. Two years later, their daughter, Angela Marie, was born on May 7, 1966. Together, they built a life rooted in hard work, love for animals, and a shared dream of owning their own ranch. While Keith worked at the Adolph Coors Company, Julane trained racehorses—a passion she pursued full-time. Keith also trained horses on his days off, making their love for the sport a shared family endeavor. Keith and Julane experienced great joy in life, but also profound loss. Their beloved son, Brian, tragically died in a car accident in 1980 three days before his 16th birthday. Despite this unimaginable heartbreak, they remained devoted to one another and continued to build a life full of love, resilience, and purpose. The couple lived in several parts of Colorado, including East Lake and Northglenn, but their dream came true when they purchased 60 acres in Elizabeth, where they built a home and barn from the ground up. It became the heart of their family life for many years.With the kennel closed and Keith’s retirement from Coors, in 2017, they sold the farm and moved to South Dakota to be closer to one of their grandchildren. After three years away, their hearts called them back to Colorado, and they settled in Fowler. Tragically, Keith passed away later that same year in 2020. Julane remained in their Fowler home until 2023, when advancing dementia made it unsafe for her to live alone. Their life together was marked by deep commitment—to each other, to their family, and to the values they cherished. They built more than just a home; they built a legacy.