Harold Edwin Baldwin
Marriages
Carol Pieper - 1990
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot - May 16, 2009
Steamboat Pilot
Harold Edwin Baldwin
1936 - 2007
Former Steamboat Springs resident Harold Edwin Baldwin died Dec. 15, 2007, from complications related to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in Denver. He was 71.
Harold was born April 3, 1936, to William and Emily Baldwin in Fort Collins. A few years after his birth, the family moved from North Park to Steamboat Springs, where it bought a cattle ranch on Twenty Mile Road. He grew up on the ranch in Steamboat, attended the local schools and was an avid wrestler at Steamboat Springs High School.
After graduating high school, Harold attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins. There he studied agriculture and English. He received his Bachelor's degree in agriculture with a minor in English. Harold returned to Steamboat after graduation to resume working, and running, the family ranch.
In addition to his ranch work, Harold found many ways to participate in the community. He spent a few years as a substitute teacher at Steamboat Springs High School. He was a member of the Rifle Club, teaching hunter safety classes, and he was also a member of the Routt County Sheriff's Posse.
Despite all of his other activities, Harold was first and foremost a rancher. He spent nearly 30 years chasing cattle, fixing fence and battling the elements to keep his herds healthy. Harold loved the work and he loved the ranch, but those 30 years took their toll. In the mid-'80s he pursued an opportunity to purchase a local storage business which he ran until leaving Steamboat in 1996. The storage business came with a different set of challenges and daily problems to solve, but Harold rose to the challenge and made the business a success.
Harold was always warm, friendly and easy to laugh. He had many friends throughout the community and never hesitated to stop and chat with the people he'd see around town. He married Carol Pieper in 1990 and his happiest years were spent with her as a husband, father and grandfather. Harold and Carol moved from Steamboat to Arvada in 1996, where he attempted retirement for a short time. After discovering that retirement didn't suit him, he started to keep himself busy cutting wood for Carol's tole paintings and eventually took a position with a hardware chain that allowed him to meet and befriend many more people.
Harold is survived by his wife Carol; their children Mark Baldwin, Diana Bender, Kathy Daniel and Laura Wagenaar; six grandchildren; and his brother, William K. Baldwin.
Friends and family will gather to celebrate his life at 3:30 p.m. today at Steamboat Cemetery.
