Richard Schmidt

Richard Andrew Schmidt, age 80, passed away at Life Care Center of Littleton on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The cause was years of health issues stemming from Type 2 Diabetes.

Richard was Born July 15, 1940 in Denver, Colorado where he lived and worked all his life. Richard attended and graduated from West High School in Denver in 1959. He attended the University of Northern Colorado as a freshman in 1959. He was employed by Gates Rubber Company (Denver), working in the factory located at the Broadway and Mississippi plant. He moved to the Gates Warehouse location in Montebello where he finished out his almost 30 years of service before retiring in 1991. After a short retirement, Richard decided to go back to working outside the home. He applied for a job with Vantage Bowling Equipment, was hired and worked in their warehouse area staging products for shipment to businesses around the area. After 6 years at Vantage, the company was sold, and he again retired.

Richard was a “railroad buff.” He owned a collection of model trains and had a small library of railroad history books. He and his family traveled on historic trains, visited railroad museums, and attended train shows around the Western United States. Richard and his wife, Sharon, belonged to a square-dancing group, and enjoyed several years dancing and socializing with close friends. They belonged to Notre Dame Catholic Church where their daughter, Vickie was involved in educational programs offered through the parish.

Following the death of his wife, Sharon in 2010, Richard remained living in the family home on South Quitman Street in Denver. Failing health became an issue and the decision was made for him to move to a care facility that could provide assistance with some of his daily needs. He moved to The Gardens at St. Elizabeth Assisted Living where he lived for 3 years until he could no longer manage his own diabetes. In December of 2018, he moved to The Gardens at Columbine in Littleton, and lived there for a year and 9 months. September of 2020 brought another move to the Life Care Center of Littleton where he was provided long term, skilled care until his passing.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Vickie Lee Schmidt of Lakewood, Colorado; his niece, Valerie L. (Gloss) Krumins (Indy) of Long Beach, California; his nephew, David R. Gloss (Ray) of Sharon, Pennsylvania; and 10 first cousins who live in the Denver, Longmont, Greeley, Colorado areas and in Nebraska: Vince Lechman (Reggie), Leanne Lechman-Thoma (Mike), Cyndie Williams-Frasier (Ed), Gary Lechman (Henrie), Sandie Williams-Bradford (John), Kathy Lechman-Truitt (Bob), Judy Jo Schmidt-Richmond (Dave), Becky Lechman-Gette (Larry), Marty Schmidt, and Bev Schmidt-Schrenk (Kevin).

Richard is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon D. (Hayes) Schmidt; his mother, Mary E. Schmidt; and his sister, Ramona R. (Schmidt)(Gloss) Mueller.

Services for Richard will be held at 9:30am on Friday, May 21, 2021 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 S. Sheridan Boulevard Denver, Colorado 80219. Viewing and Recitation of the Rosary will start at 9:30am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30am. His burial will be at 12:30pm at Fairmount Cemetery, 430 S. Quebec Street Denver, Colorado 80247.

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