Russell Schelt

Russell W. Schelt, 97 years old, devoted husband and father, died on May 16, 2019, at the Collier Hospice Center after end-of-life struggles and a broken hip.

Russell was born on April 4, 1922, to the late Augustus and Carrie Schelt of La Porte, Colorado. His sister, Alma, died previously on July 25, 1995.

As a young man, Russell worked for a wrecking yard and later for the local hardware store while attending his first year of college at Colorado State University. In September of 1942, he joined the Army to fight in World War II and was assigned to the 307th Bombardment Group, 371st Squadron of the 13th Army Air Corp. This group was later to be known as the Long Rangers. He was assigned as a navigator and bombardier on a B24 Liberator. The war took him to the South Pacific and included stops in New Guinea, Philippines, Bataan, and Iwo Jima.

At the end of the war, Russell returned home and continued his education at Colorado State University as an engineering undergraduate student. While attending college, he got a job at the local Woolworth's doing stock work. There he met Phyllis Lee Smith, who was working as a sales clerk. They fell in love and were married on May 21, 1948. They rented a small basement apartment in Fort Collins.

In 1948, Russell also graduated from CSU and returned to the hardware store where he was previously employed. After working there for some time, the manager of the store put him in touch with the Farm Bureau Insurance Company in 1950. Farm Bureau hired him and the family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he worked for the company for 38 years.

Russell and Phyllis had three children and he spent much of his free time with his kids as well as enjoying fly-fishing, photography and woodworking. Vacations were spent in the Colorado mountains and taking road trips to visit places like California, Wyoming and New Mexico.

After he retired from Farm Bureau in 1988, he started a small custom woodworking company, and enjoyed making custom furniture for customers but mostly gave his creations to family and friends.

On May 16, 2019, Russell passed away after battling the effects of old age and a broken hip. He was a great man, a wonderful husband, and a father who was always there for his family. He will be missed more than words can express. He is survived by his children Jennifer and husband John Uhland, Keith and wife Diane Schelt, and Karen and husband Jerome Pfeifer along with his grandson John and wife Heather Schelt.

Services will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 1:30pm and will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Graveside Service: May 28, 2019 1:30 pm

Ft. Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80235