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Mark Achen Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Mark Achen
Heather Linn Rossi
January 25, 2026
Mark would walk me to bed until he left to Stanford when I was 5. Always checking through my sheets & blanket for spiders (my bed was under a non -sealing window & got a lot of bites) & then bounce me up & down on the bed several times. He was our protector, being such a Scout (as the whole family was) & brought all of us joy in trying times.
He was meticulous in all he did & I loved watching him race walk, he was just soooo fast.
I had the great pleasure of spending time with him in his final year several times & Mark was the same, upright, joyful, courageous & super considerate & highly intelligent oldest brother that I love, adored & wanted to be just like. Thank you for your hospitality and joy from both Mark & MaryAnn, who was built out of the same values as Mark & took amazing care of him when throughout their beautiful marriage.
Wayne Parker
November 19, 2024
So sorry to hear about Mark's passing. He was one my earliest mentors when I was a young city manager in the KC area, and was our Utah senior advisor for many years. I have so many fond memories of my interactions with Mark over the years. Julie and I send our condolences and prayers for peace to Mark's family.
J.
October 19, 2024
May God's promise found in John 6:40, of the hope to see our loved ones again, comfort your heart and give you peace, strength, and hope in the days ahead.
Clay Brown
October 16, 2024
Mark was a super guy. He was the ultimate city manager. Mark was not only a mentor but a friend. A gracious human being who made our profession better. Mark will be missed.
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Michael Rock
October 11, 2024
Mark was always a true gentleman. He had a dry wit and was always willing to reach out in support of his fellow City Managers. We will miss him.
Larry N. Arft
October 11, 2024
I was both a personal friend and professional colleague of Mark's. We both served in assistant City Manager positions in adjacent communities back in the mid-1970"s. We stayed in touch during our subsequent professional careers, and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. My sincere condolences to his family and the Grand Junction community he served so faithfully.
Spike Howard
October 10, 2024
I started backpacking with Mark in 1994 along with Lew Goodheart and Dick Thompson. I did not know him in a professional capacity. Our trip was to Grand Gulch in Utah. This trip was the beginning of 20 years of adventure in the canyons of Utah. Mark loved the outdoors, he was completely at home with a 40 pound pack on his back and a topographic map in his hand. In those years we had plenty of challenges, rain, snow, ice, floods, quicksand, bad knees, bad backs but nothing changed his positive spirit he would say adversity makes the trip memorable. I have some of the greatest memories of those trips. At the end of a tough day of hiking we would set up camp and Mark would disappear. Soon he would be on a ridge high above our campsite with that infectious smile waving to us. I have been blessed to know him.
Deb Kupecz
October 5, 2024
Our deepest sympathies are reaching out to you. We were fortunate to share good memories of Mark and Maryann when our travel plans crossed. May you all find solace in knowing what a wonderful person he was.
Janet Terry
October 5, 2024
I had the honor to serve on the Grand Junction City Council when Mark was our City Manager and will always treasure Mark´s wise counsel I was afforded during that time. Our city was blessed with Mark´s guidance during a difficult time and we will be forever grateful. Mark left footprints on our city and many other cities in Colorado and will be long remembered. Thank you, Mark, for your service. You will be missed but long remembered
Brandy Reitter (former Town Manager)
October 4, 2024
Mark was a mentor, role model and friend. I first met Mark in my MPA program back in the day as an aspiring city manager. He would always reach out to me, check in, see how things were going. He was a voice of inspiration and encouragement no matter what chapter of my life I was experiencing. He had the best advice and most importantly he truly cared about those around him. He is a legend in local government and I will miss him dearly.
Karen Cumbo
October 3, 2024
Mark was the ultimate professional city manager, without the ego. He was smart, thoughtful, funny, and a person of great integrity. I learned a lot from him and was blessed to spend time with Mark and Mary Ann at our crazy gatherings at Snow Mountain Ranch. We were lucky to know him.
Bill Bell, Montrose City Manager
October 3, 2024
Mark was an exceptional man of great character. His dedication to excellence and his passion for service made a lasting impact on so many people. I will always remember our conversations about life, service and public management. Whether it was while eating barbecue together in Kansas City or while chatting over the phone on one of the many calls he made just to check in on me...Marc always knew how to remind me of my purpose. He went out of his way to make everyone around him better and for that I am very grateful.
Kelly Arnold, GJ CM 2000-2007.
October 3, 2024
My thoughts to all friends and family of truly a great individual and public servant. I was first City Manager to follow Mark in GJ. Hard act to follow! But his guidance, humor, and interest made it a great experience for me. We will miss Mark, but our stories and friendships built by Mark will be a lasting legacy.
Tim Sarmo
October 3, 2024
So sad to learn of Mark's passing. His contributions to Colorado's communities and to the profession of public management are immeasurable. I will remember Mark as a wise mentor, but even more, I will cherish my memories of him as a golfing partner and a warm, genuine friend. He will be missed.
Andrea Phillips
October 2, 2024
Mark served the profession of city management and was well regarded as a public servant. As a new young manager, I was gifted with his words of wisdom many times. Thanks for your service Mark.
Gary and Dianne Sears
October 2, 2024
We are so sad to learn of Mark Achen's passing. Mark was a very talented and smart individual with a generous spirit and kind heart. Mark was recognized by the city management profession for his extensive expertise and exceedingly wise counsel, regardless of the size or type of city or town, or the distance that he had to travel. Mark always looked forward to providing guidance and assistance. It did not matter whether the manager was new to the profession or was an experienced manager who needed Mark's insight to solve problems or issues. Everyone knew that Mark would be available to assist them in whatever circumstances they were involved. No wonder that the Colorado City County Management Association's "Lifetime Achievement Award " was named the "Mark Achen Lifetime Achievement Awards," which is still given annually to the top city, county, and town managers in the State of Colorado!
Mark epitomized the best of the city management profession, yet he had a giant place in his heart for his beautiful family and the great outdoors. He could climb the highest mountains in Colorado, swing a racket or golf club with the best, and power walk so fast that one had to trot to keep up with him. What a friend to have! Mark was a bright spot in so many lives.
Dianne and I are so, so sad to learn of his passing. Our hearts break for Mary Ann, Kara, Wendy and their families.
Thank you Mark for making our lives better and much more rewarding!
Rich Englehart
October 2, 2024
I had the honor to serve Grand Junction a number of years after Mark had retired. He was a legend then and continues to be for that community. His professional and organizational knowledge coupled with his political savvy made him one of the best in our profession. He has forever left a legacy for Grand Junction and generations of Managers throughout this country. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Andrea Suhaka
October 2, 2024
Mark was our Range Rider when we founded the City of Centennial in 2001. I was part of the founding group and on that first City Council. He was brilliant, soft spoken and kind. He somehow knew exactly what to do. He was with us 3 days a week and birthed a beautiful, healthy City. I will be forever grateful for his deep knowledge and helping hands. Though we haven´t seen you in 20 years, you´ll be forever missed.
Most sincerely,
Andrea Suhaka, retired Council member
Clint Kinney
September 30, 2024
I have no words that are adequate for the significance of this loss. Not only was Mark THE role model for the profession, more importantly, he was a kind, smart, thoughtful guy that enjoyed life. His outdoor adventures were on par with his professional ones. He made an immeasurable, positive impact on this world. He and his family should be incredibly proud.
Shane Hale
September 30, 2024
I first met Mark when he was the acting Town Manager for Winter Park. He would sit through a regional meeting and not say a word for the first 118 minutes of a 2-hour meeting. After everyone had spoken, he would calmly and confidently point out any of the areas that we had failed to cover--he illustrated to me that leaders speak last.
As I grew in my career, Mark was always a sage, thoughtful and generous mentor in his capacity as a Range Rider. There was a time when he was the only one in the state of Colorado, and still managed to help out a couple of managers in Utah in his spare time. I relied on him a lot in those early days of my career, and his advice was ALWAYS spot on.
Looking back on my time as president of CCCMA, there are two things that I'm proudest of. The first was a fund-raising effort for the ICMA professional fund--it was Mark Achen that helped me with the final push to solicit contributions that helped us achieve our goal of 100 managers in Colorado donating $100 each. The second accomplishment was renaming the Manager of the Year award after Mark.
There aren't many people who are truly exceptional, but Mark Achen was absolutely one of the most exceptional people that I've ever known.
Gary Suiter
September 30, 2024
When thinking of Mark, I immediately visualize his infectious smile. He was a mentor and positive influence to all those around him. I am most grateful to Mark for the time I called him for help with a micro-managing Mayor, a contentious council, and on the brink of resignation. Mark was calming, and gave me specific instructions, which I followed - I stayed on the job another 6 years. Thank you, Mark...we will all miss you.
Gary Suiter, Soon to be retired City Manager of Steamboat Springs
Ron LeBlanc, retired City Manager
September 29, 2024
This is a very sad day for the city management profession. I first met Mark about 35 years ago. He was a role model for many city managers. The profession has lost a leader with values, a true "North Star". He will be missed, but his impact on the profession will continue.
Mike Bennett
September 29, 2024
Sad to hear of Mark´s passing. I hope his family can feel peace at this time and joy in the memories. Ten years ago, when I began my position as Fruita City Manager, one of the first calls I received on the job was from Mark, who was giving his free time in service as a Senior Advisor to City Managers in Colorado. I was always grateful to Mark for our discussions, his insights, leadership, and mentorship. There is a reason the Colorado City/County Management Association has a lifetime achievement award named after Mark, because of the awesome person and leader he is. -Mike Bennett
Samuel Mamet
September 29, 2024
I had the pleasure of working with Mark for many years. He was a leader among city managers. Grand Junction is a great community because of Mark´s vision and work. May his memory be a blessing. Sam Mamet, retired executive director, Colorado Municipal League
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