Rudolph Everett "Rudy" Salzgeber
Marriages
Elisabeth (Kettiger) Salzgeber
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot - July 31, 2020
January 17, 1928 – July 25, 2020
Rudolph “Rudy” Everett Salzgeber passed away peacefully of COVID-19 in Loveland at age 92. He and his wife, Elisabeth (Kettiger) Salzgeber, emigrated from Switzerland to the U.S. in 1950. Their first year was spent in Ganado, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation, where he operated the power plant. After moving to Lakewood, Rudy worked for 18 years at Marathon Oil as a precision machinist and later as the plant maintenance supervisor.
In 1973, Rudy and Elisabeth moved to Steamboat Springs, where they owned and operated Ski Town Campground until 1988 with their son, Ulrich, and his wife, Janet.
He loved to ski, enjoyed chocolate and good jokes, and sang Swiss folk songs in beautiful harmony. Rudy and Elisabeth always helped family, friends and countless strangers in need. A hardworking man, known as “Rudy 911,” he built his family’s house in Lakewood and a home at the campground. He helped his kids and community with many repair and building projects.
Rudy is survived by his sister, Clara Semadeni-Salzgeber, and brother-in-law Arnold Kettiger in Switzerland; his son, Ulrich Salzgeber, and his wife, Janet, in Steamboat; his daughter Chris Lehr and her husband, Bob, in San Francisco; his daughter Ursula Miller and her husband, Mark, in Loveland; his daughter Ruth Wentzel and her husband, Jeff, in Ridgway; and nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Switzerland. His wife, Elisabeth, and his brothers Robert and Paul have previously passed away.
Our family is thankful for the friendships our parents enjoyed. They taught us to work hard and to help others. We are grateful for the kindness shown by all the staff at Seven Lakes Memory Care in Loveland. A private memorial will be held by the family at a later date.
