YOUR AD HERE »

Robert Shults – Aug. 2 – Jan. 13, 2010

Robert Shults was born in San Gabriel, Calif., on Aug. 2, 1952. He attended elementary, junior high and graduated high school in California. He then enrolled into college to become a diesel mechanic.Rob’s father and brother were master mechanics and, therefore, Rob had grown up with a lot of knowledge in this area, which resulted in him becoming a motor-head himself. He went from building bicycles to building actual motorcycles out of those bicycles. Being raised in California in the ’60s, surfing, riding his Harley and racing Hot Rods “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” days was one of the many ways he spent his teenage years. When Rob realized there was a whole big world waiting for him, he decided to “Hit the Open Road” and hitchhiked up the coast to Washington state with his dog and his long-time friend Al Peterson. Once there, he tried out several different trades and life-experiences. In 1978, he moved to Breckenridge in a 1948 panel truck and worked as a truck driver/mechanic for Stan Miller and Alpine Rock. He worked by day and snow skied by moonlight. In the early ’80s Rob moved to TRC, N.M., where he was a boat mechanic. He then moved on to Albuquerque and worked for International Trucking. He was always interested in becoming a pilot, building remote control airplanes and later piloting Ultra-Lites. Being of free spirit, soaring in the sky was one of Rob’s biggest passions. Rob has always been considered a “1 percenter,” a rebel with a cause. In 1991, the mountains were calling his name so he moved back to Colorado where he met the love of his life, Beth, in the back of a limo while throwing candy during a 4th of July parade. Rob continued to be a diesel mechanic and truck driver for B&B and Penfield. Rob & Beth moved from Summit County to a house they bought in Blue Valley Acres where they raised their boys, Joe and Michael. After the children were grown, they moved into Kremmling where Rob continued to work as an all-around mechanic and truck driver for DMJ. He then opened his own shop in Kremmling, helping all whom he crossed paths with, whether it be fixing their car or giving someone a place to stay with a pay-me-when-you-can attitude. Continuing his passion for flight, Rob built a replica of a 1917 Jenny. He also took the job as manager of the Kremmling airport and continued working toward his pilot’s license. Tragically, in 2008, Rob began his long battle with cancer and had to commute to Grand Junction for cancer treatments. Both he and Beth felt it best that they move to Grand Junction to be closer to the hospital for his cancer treatments. This cancer took his life on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, when he passed peacefully in their home surrounded by friends and family. Rob touched the lives of so many people in his travels and will be missed dearly. He is survived by his brother, Jim Shults; daughter, Mary Kay Leone; five grandchildren; his step-sons, Joseph Anthony and Michael Jacob Colafrancesco; and the love of his life, Elizabeth Colafrancesco.Memorial Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at the West Grand High School Auditorium in Kremmling.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live.

Over the past year, contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting, including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire.

If you value local journalism, consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do.