Kenneth M. Gorrell meant a lot to Arvada. He meant even more to his family.

On May 8, 2007, Gorrell passed at Lutheran Hospital surrounded by his loving wife Bea and family members. He was 81.

During his eventful life, Gorrell spearheaded Arvada's home-rule charter, served as the mayor of Arvada, was on City Council for more than 16 years and worked as an electrical engineer at Public Service Company of Colorado.

"We developed a brand new way of running the city's government," Gorrell said in an interview featured in the Arvada Sentinel's 2004 special section honoring Arvada's most influential people. "We did things the city had never seen before."

The lifelong Arvada resident served as Jaycees regional president, was a University of Colorado graduate, and was named the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1963.

While his contributions to Arvada were numerous, his role as husband, father and grandfather were even more valuable.

"For 35 years he was a great husband, a great father and just a loving man. Now he's my Angel. He's going to save a place for me," said his wife, Bea.

"Tell him to reserve a big room," daughter Cathy Thomas added. "There is a lot of us."

Cathy added, "It's hard to describe how he was such a wonderful father because he wasn't overly talkative, but when he did talk, you listened."

Daughter Cheryl Hollander summed up her father by saying, "My dad was quiet, dynamic and a strong father figure. To me that says it all."

Son Kent Gorrell echoed his sisters' sentiment.

"He was always there for me. We talked a lot without saying words. I love him very much," Kent Gorrell said.

Daughter Brenda Bates remembered "I was just blessed by his love and his willingness to give his wisdom, his time and his smile."

Gorrell was soft spoken and known as a man who stood tall among men, his family said.

"He stood tall with everything he did and stood behind the work he did," said his son Keith Schreiber. "He wouldn't have been mayor and on council for that many years if he didn't stand that tall."

Daughter Joyce Bell remembered, "He was a great father and a great friend. He was always there. He was willing to do anything with the kids."

Gorrell often called son Dennis Schreiber, 'his rock.' Dennis simply wanted to say to his father, "Thank you and I love you."

Kenneth Gorrell is survived by his wife Bea; brothers, Lloyd Gorrell and Gordon Gorrell ; children Dale Gorrell, Cathy Thomas, Dennis Schreiber, Cheryl Hollander, Joyce Bell, Brenda Bates, Keith Schreiber and Kent Gorrell; 18 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.