Donald Joseph Schell Sr.

He was born at home on October 29, 1936 in Brighton, CO to John Schell and Anna (Krantz) Schell. He grew up in a large German family in Greeley with six brothers, Edward, John, Jim, Bob, Billy and David and three sisters; Katie, Sally, and Markie. He was a graduate of Greeley High School with the Class of 1955.

On August 4, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart Beverly Ann Ward at St. Peters Catholic Church in Greeley, CO. They remained in Greeley their entire life. Together they raised three amazing sons with whom their pride and joy always showed, Donald Jr. (Joe), Thomas, and Brian. He worked for his father-in-law at the Ward Planning Mill during their first years of marriage, followed by Monfort of Colorado for many years retiring from there to open his own carpentry business, Schell Carpentry Service, never really retiring and always willing to help his children with any project. He was a volunteer delivery driver with his wife for Meals on Wheels.

Donald will always be remembered as a loving and wonderful son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was a strong and devoted family man. His legacy will always be that he raised his boys to be good and honorable men – who learned many invaluable lessons from their dad. He is lovingly remembered by all who met him as a rough and gruff man on the outside but was just a really big teddy bear at heart that everyone loved and admired. He may be gone but he shall never be forgotten.

Donald was a master craftsman and woodcarver. There was never a project too daunting for him, he could figure anything out. In his retirement he handcrafted some of the most beautiful wooden bowls, hand carved many animals and figurines for his wife and children. He loved to go hunting and fishing with his boys in Northern Colorado, time spent with them at Brian’s place in the Virginia Dale area, hunting and relaxing and he especially enjoyed the time that they spent at their family cabin in Glen Haven. He loved to garden, took pride in his yard, having the best lawn in the neighborhood and was an avid bee keeper passing that onto his children.

Survivors are his wife, Beverly, their three sons and families; Donald J. Jr. (Joe) and Dawn Cohea of Greeley, Thomas W. and Sherrie of Ft. Collins and Brian of Greeley. Grandchildren; Jami and Cole Gorton of Windsor, Jeff and Cody Schell of Ft. Collins, Great grandchildren; Jayden, Hunter and Easton Gorton all of Windsor CO. Three sisters, Katie Eaton of Denver, Sally Roth and husband Harvey of Windsor and Margaret Ann and Christ Schmidt of Greeley and one brother David Schell and wife Pam of Greeley. Sisters-in-laws; Elaine, Norma and Sharon Schell. Numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna; brothers, Edward, John, Jim, Bob and Billy.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Glen Haven Flood Relief Inc. Town Hall Fund or Meals on Wheels of Greeley and Weld County in Donald’s name c/o Beverly Schell.

A Celebration of his Life will be held on October 29, 2016, what would have been his 80th birthday at the Evans Community Complex, 1100 37th St., Evans, CO from 11-2 pm.