Ronald Kent Lusk was born on November 22, 1950 in Rocky Ford Colorado and passed away on April 23, 2021 at the age of 70 after a short battle with lymphoma. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna Marie Lusk, his son, David Lee Lusk, daughter, Hollie Renee Baca (husband Ian), grandchildren Fletcher Quinn and Lilliana Josephine Baca, sister Becky Casper (husband Paul Darwin), and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Esther Lusk. 

Kent was raised and worked on the family farm and was proud to be a 3rd generation farmer. His family got together almost every Sunday growing up and the cousins had lots of mischief-causing adventures. As a young teenager, Kent drove trucks of watermelons to Denargo Market in downtown Denver and had entertaining and sometimes unbelievable stories of those trips. Kent was very close to his dad and loved working alongside him on the farm.

Kent married his sweetheart, Donna on one of the hottest days in July of 1971 and were inseparable ever since. They went to college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. On Sunday evenings they would go to a little restaurant full of grandparents where they would polka the night away. The polka was their favorite dance at weddings. Kent graduated from CSU with a degree in Vocational Agriculture. He worked a short time for Northrop King until his dad asked him to come back to the farm.  Most days you could see Kent driving around the farm with three little heads showing through the pickup window. David, Paul, and Luke went farming with him often as children. Kent loved teaching the boys to hunt, fish, and farm and was very proud of all their accomplishments in life.

Two of the most memorable times were when Kent and Donna went to see their kids for the first time. Kent rushed to hold them first both times. He named Hollie Renee the minute he heard from the case worker that they could go see their little girl. Kent was a proud father and loved spending time with David and Hollie whenever possible.

Between years farming, Kent taught at Otero Junior College for one year and Swink for nearly 13 years. He enjoyed teaching junior high math and science and was passionate about connecting with all of his students. They couldn’t pull anything over on Mr. Lusk because he had plenty of years experience being ornery in school himself.  He loved sports and was a football and basketball coach. He wanted all of his players to be able to play ball, feel success, and succeed. Coaching high school boys and girls basketball as well as junior high football were some of Kent’s best times, especially during the championship years.

Kent decided to grow melons and vegetables again on the farm, retired from teaching, and went back to farming full time. Kent, David, Paul, and Donna ran Lusk Farm Market on Highway 50 for about eleven years.

Kent was always so happy when he was with his great nephews, Dalton, Hayden, Riley, and Cort. He has two grandkids Fletcher and Lilliana who were the sunshine in his life. He was always asking them, “How much do you love Papa?” and they would reply by raising their arms high in the air.

After selling the farm to his nephew Paul, Kent enjoyed fishing, carving, and going to his place in the mountains by the Conejos River with his family.  David, Donna, and Kent would spend the days fishing and exploring the mountains together. Kent was especially happy when his nephews and grandchildren were in the mountains with him.

Highlights over the years were wonderful trips with friends Tom and Judy Brown where they created lots of happy memories on the beach.  Kent never had a brother but he always said Bob and Terry were his brothers from another mother. Kent made many close lifelong friends over the years and they have memories full of laughter. Kent grieved for four of his friends who passed before him. What a joyous reunion that was for the friends in Heaven.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, April 30th at 10:30 AM at The First United Methodist Church at 301 West Washington Ave, Rocky Ford, CO. Inurnment of his cremains will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Rocky Ford, CO. The family will be there to welcome friends and relatives. Masks will be required to attend the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ford – Ustick Funeral Home. 

www.fordustick.com