Leonard J Kapushion

Leonard (Smokey Len) Kapushion Leonard J. Kapushion, 89, of Salida, Colorado died May 28, 2023. He was born January 31, 1934 in Crested Butte, Colorado to John and Mary (Verzuh) Kapushion. He was the youngest of five children - John, Ruth, Blanche, Annabel and Len. “I was very happy in my position in the family. I was spoiled, loved, and left alone.” He grew up on the family ranch located a mile outside of Crested Butte before his parents sold it after World War II and then moved into the house at 214 Elk Avenue. Len said of his life on the ranch, “I was left alone with my two dogs to play in the fields and hills, to fish, and to run with the cows, horses and wildlife; and I got to walk or ride a horse to school as well.” He developed his love and passion for music at a young age after receiving a “Gene Autry Singing Cowboy” guitar for his 8th birthday. He graduated from Crested Butte High School in 1952. After high school, he moved to Chicago and stayed with his sister Annabel. He worked for Western Electric Telephone and enrolled at the Roosevelt College of Music. While there, he entered a music contest on the Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour television show; he said, “I didn’t win. I finished second to a 10 year old.” In 1954, he enlisted in the United States Army and served a total of 8 years in active and reserve duty. His service included two years stationed in Japan where, in addition to his military duties, he was a member of a four piece country band, the 1st Cavalry Western Playboys. He and his band entertained the troops throughout Japan, including a trip, in the same transport plane, with Bob Hope and his United Service Organization (USO) troupe to Okinawa and Korea for the 1956 Christmas and New Year’s shows. Len and his band entertained troops stationed along the 38th Parallel, performing mostly in hospitals and for Company parties; a total of 135 performances in two weeks. Upon reintegration to the United States in 1957, he was transferred to the Army Reserve and honorably discharged in 1962. He met Betty Joyce Zele in Pueblo, Colorado while polka dancing at the local Croatian Hall. They were married June 28, 1958 and had two sons, Randy and Joe. After several years of moving around the state of Colorado as part of his life insurance sales job, he and his family settled in Salida in December of 1963. With his wife Betty, he raised his two sons and became an active member of the Salida community. In 1973, he opened his own business on F street where he sold guitars and other musical instruments, and eventually added jewelry, trophies and engraving. He gave guitar lessons, provided instruments for local middle and high school band members, and set up and provided sound equipment for numerous events and local bands. “Smokey Len Concerns” became a favorite hangout for aspiring and established musicians. In 1998, he retired and closed the business after 25 years. He formed his own country-western band, Smokey Len and the Travel-Ons, in the mid 1960s and spent the next 15 years performing in dance halls and bars, and at community celebrations, rodeos, dances, county fairs, parades, and weddings. He had a local radio show on KVRH, “The Smokey Len Travel-on Show,” where he shared music and stories about classic country-western music; he also sang a song or two as part of the broadcast. He was an active member of the Colorado Country Music Association and Foundation and was named to the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 1986 for his efforts in representing and promoting country music. In the late 1970s he began planning and building his beloved “cabin” on Poncha Pass. He spent countless hours, days and years, with occasional help from family and friends, using logs off the property and traditional building techniques to construct the rustic cabin. For many years it was the tradition of family and friends to gather one weekend in July to work on the cabin, listen and dance to Smokey and friends perform live music, and feast on a traditional Croatian open pit, lamb on a spit, “pachinka-janjetina.” His rule was, “no food until you’ve done some work.” Never one to be in a rush or ever wanting the cabin to be done, he said he’ll leave it to his sons to finish. One of his favorite expressions was, “Rest, you’re moving too fast! Let's sit down and think about this.” He was an active member of Salida Jaycees, Elks Lodge 808, VFW and American Legion. He rendered taps for local veterans and regularly traveled to Crested Butte for many Memorial Day ceremonies. He loved to hunt, fish, and watch old classic movies, some of which he said he’d seen at least 50 times. He always had animals to care for, including cattle, horses, chickens, sheep, ducks, geese, rabbits, dogs, a chipmunk, and numerous wildlife that ventured onto his property. Smokey’s nickname was established soon after he arrived in Salida. While making a delivery for the Wonder Bread Company to the Oxford’s Grocery Market on Hwy. 50, the young daughter of the store’s owners asked him the riddle, “what is Smokey the Bear's middle name?” He didn’t know. From then on he was referred to as Smokey Len every time he arrived at the store. He liked it, kept it, and made it his own. (The answer, by the way, is “the”) His daughter-in-law, Jackie, described Len as homemade bread, “a little crusty on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.” Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty in 1996; his brother John Kapushion; his sisters and brother-in-laws Ruth and Jake Saya, Blanche and Barney Niccoli and Joe Melovich. He is survived by his sons Randy (Jackie) Kapushion, Salida; and Joe Kapushion, Broomfield, CO; his sister Annabel Melovich, San Francisco, CA; his grandchildren Jack Kapushion, Seattle, WA; and Jenna Kapushion, Boulder, CO; many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews; and five great grandchildren. At his request, his life will be celebrated at a private gathering, and with military funeral honors at Fairview Cemetery; both at a later date. He asked that his ashes be distributed in his hometown of Crested Butte, at his cabin on Poncha Pass, and at his wife’s gravesite in Salida. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution to the Salida School District music programs. On line condolences may be sent to the family at lewisandglenn.com. Arrangements are with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.

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