Frederick Christopher Kail

Frederick Christopher Kail passed away at his home in Cortez, Colorado on February 24th, 2026. He was 80 years old.

Fred was born to Maye (Davie) and Philip Kail in Gettysburg, PA and grew up in Wheat Ridge, CO. He attended Wheat Ridge High School and enrolled at Colorado State University before joining the Peace Corps. He served three years in Mato Grosso, Brazil , where he met and married Pamela (Geyer) Kail, a fellow Peace Corps volunteer.

Upon completing their service, the couple returned briefly to Colorado where Fred completed an BA in Political Science from CSU, before settling in Albion, MI where their two children were born, and finally moving north to a remote homestead in Cheboygan County.

The couple later divorced, and Fred eventually moved back to Colorado to the Front Range outside of Denver. Most recently, he moved to Cortez, CO to be closer to family.

Fred was active in Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout status in his younger years, and as a Scout Master as an adult. He loved backpacking and travel and instilled that love in his children. He worked intermittently in economic development through various Chambers of Commerce and as a consultant in the US and Latin America. He enjoyed music, especially folk, jazz, and Brazilian music and was a talented guitarist and singer. He loved the Rocky Mountains. Above all, he enjoyed learning and sharing what he learned with others.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Kathryn (Kail) Evans. He is survived by his two children Amanda and Andrew Kail, his sister Josephine Bolton, ex-wife Pamela Kail, brother-in-law Rodney Evans, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be a small, private memorial celebration in Grand Junction on Memorial Day Weekend. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Cortez Cultural Center. You can donate online here- 

https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/CortezCulturalCenter