Samuel T. "Sam" Haupt
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4C - July 4, 2021
Samuel “Sam”
T. Haupt
December 9, 1934 - June 28, 2021
Sam passed away peacefully
Monday morning, June 28, at
HopeWest Care Center.
Sam was born in Lincoln,
Nebraska, to Sam and Helen
Haupt. He and his older brother,
Charley, were raised in Lincoln,
apart from 1942-1944 during
WWII, when the family lived
in California while their father was stationed in Oakland with the
US Navy. Sam attended the University of Minnesota when he was
offered the school’s first swimming scholarship. After his second
year, Sam joined the US Army from April 1954 through 1956,
and was stationed in Alaska. After his service in the US Army,
he finished his college education at the University of Nebraska
graduating in 1958.
Sam started his professional career with the Whitehead Oil
Company, and supported by Bus Whitehead, in 1964, Sam acquired
the Phillips 66 distributorship in western Colorado and moved the
family to Grand Junction.
In 1971 he transitioned into real estate. For the next 15 years
Sam Haupt’s name was seen all over town on Real Estate signs;
buying, selling and developing real estate across the Grand Valley
and Western Colorado. He was extremely fortunate to work with
so many of the wonderful people in Grand Junction and Western
Colorado. During his life, Sam was a 60-year Mason, a Shriner and
member of the Scooter Patrol, Shriner of the Year and President, a
past President of the Powderhorn Ski Corporation and worked as
Assistant Director of Club 20, just to name a few.
Sam met the love of his life, Nicky Nichols, in the summer of
1956 and they married in August 1957. Sam and Nicky lived a
wonderful life together. After raising three kids in Grand Junction,
they traveled across the country and lived in many different places,
but always returned to the Grand Valley for Grand Junction was
truly home. Through all of their adventures, they would find a local
watering hole with great people, good food, a beer for Sam, and a
glass of wine for Nicky.
Sam was a phenomenal example of a life well lived. He was
unconditionally generous and always ready to help anyone in need.
Though Sam had many accomplishments throughout his life, the
one he was most proud of was his family. To all his family, Sam
gave his time, his resources, and his wisdom over and over again.
As one of his nieces said upon hearing of his passing, “His gifts live
within us always.”
Sam was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife,
Nicky. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Bud and
Kim Haupt, Charley and Guilaine Haupt, Katie and Jim McKew;
brother, Charles Haupt; grandchildren, Milan, Cole, Ella, Charlton,
Kashia, Joshua (Moona), Andy, Alex, and Shama, and eight greatgrandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sam’s honor to
HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81506 or
Hopewestco.org/donate, or to Shriners Hospital for Children at
donate.lovetotherescue.org.
A celebration of Sam’s life (a wake) will take place at Wrigley
Field Restaurant, 1810 North Ave., Grand Junction, Saturday, July
24, at 2:00 p.m. All who knew Sam are encouraged to attend
