Obituary published on Legacy.com by Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home & Crematory on Mar. 2, 2026.
Michael Schlagel, of
Berthoud, CO, went home to be with the Lord on February 26, 2026 after a long, hard-fought battle with Parkinson's. Mike was born on December 14, 1956 to William and Mary Schlagel in
Longmont, CO. Mike and his family moved to
Lovell, WY in 1971 and he graduated from Lovell High School in 1975 and he went on to work in construction, eventually becoming a general contractor, where he spent his career building with dedication and skill. He married Laurie Anderson on August 2, 1980 in
Loveland, CO. Together they raised two sons - Aaron and Tyler.
Mike was an outdoorsman. He loved to bowhunt in the fall with his brother and their sons. He also loved to go fishing, which he later passed his love of on to his grandson. Mike had a deep appreciation for life's simple pleasures and rarely passed up a good round of golf, time spent organizing his sports memorabilia and coin collections. He thoroughly enjoyed Poker Nights with the guys. Mike also had an incredibly creative and artistic side, taking great pride in crafting and painting skull art mounts - turning them into pieces of art that reflected both his patience and his love for the outdoors.
What brought Mike the most joy was watching his grandchildren in their sporting events. He was a constant presence at games, faithfully cheering from the sidelines and celebrating every football tackle, basketball shot, and soccer goal as if it were the winning moment.
When Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he met the challenge with deep faith, quiet courage, and unwavering determination. He leaned on his relationship with God and the strength of his family, continuing to pursue the things he loved for as long as he was able. His perseverance was a testimony to his belief that God was not done with him yet.
Mike treasured the many trips he took with his life-long travel partner and beloved wife, Laurie, creating lasting memories in Hawaii, cruising the Panama Canal, the Bahamas, Alaska, and Gulf Shores. At home, he was just as content with a scoop of ice cream and a Dr. Pepper float in hand.
Mike is survived by his wife Laurie of
Berthoud, CO; son Tyler Schlagel and his wife Arika of
Berthoud, CO; grandchildren Dallas Schlagel of Greeley, CO, Tucker, Peyton, and Jayce Schlagel of
Berthoud, CO; sister Phyllis Wright and her husband Ken of
Longmont, CO; brother Peter Schlagel and his wife Cindy of Firestone, CO; as well as nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family. Mike was preceded in death by his son, Aaron Schlagel, father William Schlagel and mother Mary Schlagel.
A celebration of life will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 7755 Greenstone Trail, Fort Collins, CO 80525 on Tuesday, March 3rd at 1:30 pm with reception at the church to follow. Inurnment will be at Loveland Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to KidsPak or Be the Gift, in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home.
If you cannot attend in person, the service will be live-streamed at https://live.redeemerconnect.com