Marvin W. Buckels

Marvin W. Buckels, a lifelong resident of Colorado, passed away at the age of 95 on March 19, 2024. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Doris Torrance Buckels, whom he married in 1959. He is survived by two daughters, Lisa Buckels Schultz and Devon C. Buckels, and grandson, Nathan C. Schultz.
 
Born in northeastern Colorado, Marvin attended rural schools in Washington County until the family moved to Sterling, Colorado in 1939. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1946, and served in the United States Army from 1946-1948. 

Marvin obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Denver in 1951 and a Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1952. After three years in the dairy business, he joined Midland Federal Savings in 1955 and advanced to Executive Vice President and Treasurer. After two mergers, he continued as Executive Vice President of Western Capital Investment Corporation until his retirement in 1991. During those years, he served in leadership roles within the banking industry at local, state and national levels. In addition, the notable Taos Moderns corporate art collection Marvin assembled for Midland Federal Savings was a source of great pride and enjoyment.

Marvin was active with various business organizations over the years. He chaired a Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce task force reviewing a proposed Denver School Bond issue in 1967, served as Chamber representative on the Denver War on Poverty Board, and for many years served on both the Transportation and Public Affairs Committees. Within the Downtown Denver Partnership, he served as Chairman of Denver's Civic Ventures as well as Chairman of the Partnership Board in 1991-1992.

He was one of the original members of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors from 1990–2000, serving as Treasurer during the first six years as the organization recovered from bankruptcy. He was honored to serve on the Artistic Committee of the Symphony, helping to facilitate concert programming.

Marvin spent a significant portion of his adult life working to improve higher education opportunities in Colorado. He served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges from 1967–1979. He served as a board member and Vice Chairman of the Auraria Higher Education Center, and as an Advisory Member to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education from 1969–1976. He also served on the foundation supporting these entities for more than 20 years. In addition, he chaired the Colorado Education and Cultural Facilities Authority Board from its creation in 1981 to 2005. 

Buckels was honored by the dedication of the “Marvin W. Buckels Library” at Red Rocks Community College in 1983. Other honors include recipient of the Leaders Award from the Colorado Education Foundation, Member of the Year from the Downtown Denver Partnership in 2003, and the Caring Award from First Plymouth Congregational Church. Governor Bill Ritter declared August 8, 2008, “Marvin W. Buckels Day”, while commending Marvin as a person “committed to social justice and civil service for decades.”  
    
Amidst all these diverse activities, he was happiest while reading a book, savoring a great wine or gathering fresh roses from his garden.  

Memorial Service on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 2:00pm at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd. Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113, with a reception to follow also at the church. 

Please share memories of Buckels and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113. https://firstplymouthchurch.org/how-to-give/. Please put "In Memory of Marvin W. Buckels" in the memo line.