It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Timothy Babson Kirkpatrick.

Tim, age 45, of Toponas, Colorado, died unexpectedly on September 4, 2026.

Tim lived much of his adult life in the Yampa Valley, a place he loved deeply and served in countless ways. He was happiest outdoors, on the water, at the ranch, at Antlers, or simply surrounded by the people and landscape that made northwest Colorado home.

Tim first came to the valley as a fly-fishing guide and later owned The Steamboat Flyfisher. He loved fishing, but even more, he loved introducing other people to it: teaching young and old, sharing a stretch of river, and creating the kind of experiences that turned strangers into friends.

It was through The Steamboat Flyfisher that Tim met the love of his life, Cho Tin Tun. Together, Tim and Cho built a life rooted in community, hard work, hospitality, and service.

Following the death of Tim’s mother, Libby, in 2018, Tim and Cho moved to the family ranch in Toponas. They renamed it Hummingbird Acres and embraced the demanding life of a working ranch, caring for an ever-changing cast of animals. Tim loved the responsibility of the ranch and the connection it gave him to the land and the people around him.

That commitment to community took another form when Tim and Cho purchased Antlers Café & Bar in Yampa. To Tim, Antlers was never simply a business. It was a gathering place and an opportunity to contribute to a town he genuinely loved.

That instinct – to find a way to help – defined Tim. He quietly supported charities, schools, neighbors, friends, community events and people who simply needed a hand. Much of what he did was deliberately behind the scenes. Tim had little interest in recognition and a great interest in making things better. He showed up, helped, and moved on without expecting anyone to notice.

On July 3, 2026, the tables were briefly turned. After rebuilding Antlers following a devastating kitchen fire, Tim hosted the Antlers Independence Fest, welcoming the surrounding community for an evening of music and celebration. For once, Tim could not entirely avoid the spotlight. The evening became a celebration not only of Antlers’ reopening, but of Tim himself and what he had come to mean to Yampa. It was a fitting, joyful moment for someone who had spent so much of his life creating those moments for others.

Tim will be remembered for his sincerity, his kindness, his loyalty, and above all his instinct to take care of the people around him. His contributions to the Yampa Valley were not about having his name attached to things; they were acts of friendship, generosity and love for a community that had become inseparable from who he was.

His unexpected death leaves an enormous hole in the lives of those who loved him and in the community he served so quietly. The best way we know to honor Tim is to follow his example: show up, lend a hand, bring people together, and do good without worrying about who gets the credit.

Tim is survived by his beloved wife, Cho; his father, Sandy, and stepmother, Jeanie; his brothers Dave (Mary Jane) and Taylor (Molly); his nieces Mary Elizabeth and Sarah; and his nephew Henry. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Libby.

We loved Tim enormously, and we will miss him forever.