Paul Daniel Schauer

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Paul D. Schauer, a devoted husband, proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, and longtime leader in Colorado. He is survived by his wife Cyndy, adult children: Paul E. and Diane Schauer, Tim and Angie Schauer, Christopher “Kip” and Hanne Schauer and Heidi and Robert Gamber; and grandchildren Robert and Jordyn Schauer (and great grandson Paul Magnus Schauer), Erika and Warren Colomb, Elise and Thomas Wintenburg; Allie and Clint Schife, Lucas Schauer, Christopher Schauer, Andrew Schauer, Ryan Gamber, Mia Gamber and Emma Gamber. In addition, Paul is survived by brother Peter (and wife Lynne) Schauer (Booneville, MO) and sister Lois (and her husband Joe) Abel (Chicago, IL).

Paul was born July 18th, 1944 in Dekalb, Illinois to Paul and Elsie Schauer as their first son, with seven older sisters, and two younger brothers born a few years later. He excelled at track and cross country running while in high school and attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska on scholarship. He earned his degree in economics at Doane and in April of 1965, married Cyndy (Schaefer), a fellow student at Doane. After completing his degree, they moved to Denver, Colorado to start a career at Gates Rubber Company. He rose through the ranks in the safety, human resources and business operations section of Gates, eventually leading their government relations efforts in Colorado and Washington D.C.

While working at Gates, Paul ran to represent District 39 (mostly in Arapahoe County) in the Colorado General Assembly in 1978, the district he would represent for another 20 years. He served on numerous committees and carried dozens of bills relating to everything from higher education, mass transit, branch banking, education, economic development, taxation and state spending. He was well regarded as a leader who could work with his own party as well as across the aisle to get things done. He loved his legislative work and he networked across many states via the National Conference of State Legislators and other organizations.

In addition to Paul’s work on higher education in the legislature, all three of Paul’s sons attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, and it became almost second nature from 1984 to 1993 for he and Cyndy to visit CU for both family meals as well as a Golden Buffalo football game. Even after their sons graduated, Paul and Cyndy remained huge supporters of CU. After leaving the legislature, Paul ran for and served the University of Colorado on the Board of Regents from 2002-2008, representing the 6th Congressional District, including a term as Chair of the Board of Regents in 2006.

Paul was a dedicated public servant, community leader and was a tireless supporter of higher education, both as a legislator and a regent. Above all, he was a great champion of the University of Colorado who was beloved by his friends and colleagues within the university and beyond.

Paul left Gates in 1998 and went to work as the Executive Director for the Colorado Rock Products Association, where he worked until he retired in 2011.

In his retirement years, Paul loved serving on the board of the Denver Police Museum and tending to his garden and yard. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the wonderful friendship that Paul and Cyndy had with Dennis and Sue Reynolds and Sandi and Glenn Boldman, who they regularly played bridge with on a monthly basis for over 60 years in the Littleton area.

Paul’s passing is a loss for the family, his friends, the University of Colorado and the State of Colorado. However, his legacy will be enduring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center Fund at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. For a direct donation, please follow this link: https://giveto.cu.edu/campaigns/53586/donations/new?a=8792949

Contributions in memory of Paul can also be mailed to the University of Colorado Foundation at P.O. Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217-9155. A memorial service for Paul will be held in the spring of 2025, details to follow.