Fred Schmalz passed away in Gunnison Hospice on July 3, 2025. He was 76 years old.
He had resided in Gunnison Senior Care Center since January and as his health declined, entered into Hospice a few weeks prior to passing. Fred, his family and friends were grateful that he was able to stay in Gunnison, where they could visit and spend time with him and take him out for a steak.
Fred pulled through colon cancer more than 15 years previously. He was in chemo for eight months, but was determined to finish treatment and leave for a month-long trip to Turkey and Greece.
In December 2020 he contracted covid and was rushed to Montrose where he spent a month in ICU. He was strong and defied the odds as the doctors and nurses told him he wasn’t going to make it. During the last four and a half years he has endured numerous complications, one after another, and finally succumbed to kidney failure. Jeff Wilkinson, a family friend and minister, said, “Fred, you beat cancer, then covid, and now is the time.”
Donald Frederick Schmalz was a life-long resident of Gunnison, Colorado. He was born to Donald J. Schmalz and Patsy June Schmalz (Spiers)on April 7, 1949.
Fred and Valerie Williams were high school sweethearts and married in 1967. They celebrated their 58th anniversary on June 3. They have two sons, Jeff and Tony.
Fred went to Western State College and worked for “Van the Candy Man.” He was a lineman for Gunnison County Electric. Then, at 22 years old, Fred and Valerie started their business, Schmalz Construction. They worked in a five-state area and had 75 employees at one time.
Schmalz began work installing underground electric and phone utilities. The first project was laying cable from Almont to Taylor Reservoir, then to the foot of Cumberland Pass and up Cottonwood Pass to the ranger station.
Gunnison's economy was experiencing boom and bust cycles, so Schmalz Construction began water and sewer work. They eventually went into asphalt paving, highway and heavy construction, bridges, crane service, septic service and building portable toilets.
Schmalz Construction completed numerous projects for the City of Gunnison, Gunnison County, the State of Colorado and many federal agencies. Some of these were work on the Gunnison Schools, Western State College, Gunnison Courthouse Remodel, numerous subdivisions, Gunnison Airport and hangars, rodeo grounds grandstand and a bridge across the Rio Grande River. They completed a two-and-a-half-year project for the Bureau of Reclamation at Altus Dam, including underwater telemetry equipment so the dam in Oklahoma could be controlled from Montana.
Schmalz held open-ended contracts with Mountain Bell, US West, ATT, Greeley Gas, Public Service and numerous electric and phone companies.
Fred would have preferred to operate a piece of equipment than to work in the office. He was still going to the office every day when his health mandated care in the nursing home. He looked forward to sharing a cup of coffee with his buddies.
Fred and Val loved to travel, having visited more than 100 countries and all seven continents, including the North Pole and Arctic Circle and Antarctica. They had planned to go to Easter Island, but unfortunately Fred became too ill.
They loved to four-wheel, ATV and ride motorcycles, especially in Colorado and Utah. Camping with family and friends was a highlight, including frying turkeys for Thanksgiving. Fred and company rode many trips to Sturgis, South Dakota.
Another highlight was hunting and camping with the crew, including babies, grandkids and great grandkids and cousins. Those times as well as holidays at their house are precious memories.
Many concerts were attended.
Fred was preceded in death by his father Don, mother Pat and sister Sherrye. He is survived by his brother Shane of Ridgeway, Colorado; sons Jeff (Bobbi) of Gunnison and Olathe and Tony (Kelly) and 1-year-old Hank of Gunnison. Jeff and Bobbi have three children, Tiffany (Shawn King) of Fruita, Chris (Mackenzie Clark) of Palisade and Savannah of Olathe. Four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren.
The family was blessed to honor Fred’s wishes with a graveside service. Fred requested that family and friends join in a celebration of life Sept. 20, from 2-4 p.m. at the Fred Field Center in Gunnison. Please bring a special story or memory to share.
