Tyler "Ty" Kinder

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Tyler “Ty” Kinder. He died unexpectedly on July 5, 2022, at the age of 31. He was born on February 6, 1991, to Robert Kinder, Jr. and Amy (Grinager) Kinder in San Antonio, Texas.

Tyler is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert Kinder, Sr. and Gifford Grinager; grandmother Lani Turley, his aunt Diana Grinager, uncles James “Cubby” Koppes, and Mike Danielson.

He is survived by his loving mother Amy (Grinager) Kinder; and step-father Ed Johnson; his father Robert Kinder, Jr.; and his step-mother Kelly; sisters Mackinsey Kinder and Zoe Kinder; step-brother Hunter Johnson; grandmothers Claire Grinager and Sharon Kinder; great-uncle George (Butch) Moir; cousin Johnny Moir; grandfather Edward Johnson Sr.; uncle Greg Grinager (Tina Grinager); aunts Lisa Danielson, Kari Weiller (Stephan Weiler), and Heidi Johnson; cousins Grace Grinager (Charles Bishop), Oz Grinager, Emma Grinager, Alyssa Danielson (Adam Fuchs), Misty Danielson, Claire Koppes Shephard (Kris Shepherd), Jordan Baliff, and Peter Koppes; grand cousins Elida Shepherd, Calyx and Espen Grinager, Leo and Magellan Fuchs; and his beloved cat Sinbad.

Ty was a graduate of Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado. Ty attended Front Range Community College in Fort Collins and was attending Salt Lake Community College. He was a talented plumber, pipefitter and welder and took great pride in his work.

At age 16, Ty underwent a heart transplant for a severe cardiomyopathy condition. Ty’s heart transplant inspired numerous donations in his honor to Children’s Hospital of Denver through the annual Courage Classic bike ride; to the Chris Klug Foundation/Donor Dudes through Summit for Life; and to the American Heart Association.

Ty was an avid outdoorsman, a love that was fostered by trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Isle Royale in his youth with his uncle Greg and his cousins; tubing and fishing on Lake Minnetonka; and annual trips to the lake with all his Minnesota cousins. Throughout his life he was an active snowboarder, hiker, rock climber and adventurer. He also successfully summited Mount Olympus in Utah. Ty spent many summers on the lake in Knoxville with his Papa Kyle and weekends in Winter Park with his sisters. His love of animals was fostered by many trips to visit his Grandma Sharon in Knoxville where she always had horses, dogs and cats. Ty’s own cat, Sinbad, was a faithful companion to him.

Ty was inspired to pursue dreams of modeling and acting which he fulfilled with a full photo portfolio and appearances in several commercials, Hallmark Christmas Movies, scenes in Paramount Studios Yellowstone, The Disney Channel, and Jimmy Fallon’s “Thank You Notes” 9/7/2019, as an extra. 

Ty was loved and cherished by so many. He will be missed. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Donor Alliance to fund public education and outreach regarding the importance and impactfulness of organ donation. This is an organization that was very meaningful for Ty.

Donations can be made through https://www.donoralliance.org/contribute/ or checks can be mailed to:

Donor Alliance

200 Spruce Street, Suite 200

Denver, CO 80230

Information regarding the Services and the Celebration of life to follow.