Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Obituary
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Christopher "Chris", who was born on April 21st, 1954 in Denver, CO and passed away on April 9th, 2026 in Fort Collins, CO, at the age of 71. Chris grew up in Broomfield, Colorado, before his life and career took him to Rochester, New York, and ultimately back to the place he loved — Colorado — where he made his home in Fort Collins.
Chris was a man of remarkable intellect, steady hands, and an easy laugh. He was the kind of person who could fix anything, build anything, and figure out anything — and he was always the first one people called when something needed solving. Whether it was an engine, a home project tackled from the ground up, or a garden that needed reimagining, Chris approached every challenge with quiet confidence and genuine joy in the work.
His educational path reflected both his curiosity and his drive. He graduated from Broomfield High School in 1972, then earned a Motorcycle Mechanics diploma from the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1974 — a nod to a passion that would stay with him for decades. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1979, where he also obtained his Engineer in Training certification. He later earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1990, and in 1994 achieved his Professional Engineering license in the state of Colorado — a milestone that reflected both his dedication to his craft and the depth of his expertise.
Chris built a distinguished career as an engineering manager and executive at Kodak and what later became Carestream, where he was remembered as an excellent engineer and a natural leader. Among his proudest professional achievements was the building of 44 Boiler — but perhaps what he was most proud of were the people he worked alongside. His dedication to the next generation of engineers extended beyond his career; for several years he volunteered at the University of Colorado School of Engineering, serving as a mock interviewer and judge for senior capstone projects. He also served his broader community as a member of Upstate Colorado Economic Development and the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry (CACI) from 2007 to 2010.
Outside of work, Chris was a man of many passions — and nearly all of them involved making something, perfecting something, or sharing something. He was an avid fisherman, a gardener who took genuine pleasure in refining and redesigning his outdoor spaces year after year, a student of World War II history, and a craftsman who found quiet satisfaction in spoon carving. In the kitchen, Chris was equally in his element. He had a deep love of creating — perfecting hot sauce recipes, curing meats, crafting homemade cheeses — and took great joy in giving these creations to the people he loved. Food, for Chris, was another form of craftsmanship, and sharing it was another form of love.
He had a deep, lifelong relationship with motorcycles. In his younger years he rode with real passion, and that love of riding carried him through some of his most formative adventures. After his daughters were born, he hung up his helmet, but his fascination with motorcycles never left him — it simply shifted into the mechanical, the technical, and the appreciation of a beautifully built machine. Separate from that, Chris was a devoted and avid cyclist. He logged serious miles on his bike and found in cycling both a physical outlet and a source of joy. One of his most cherished rituals was riding with Suzanne on weekend afternoons to a local brewery for a beer and a bite — a simple tradition that captured so much of who he was: present, content, and happiest beside the people he loved. He also had a deep love of travel and found great joy in exploring the world with his family.
Chris married the love of his life, Suzanne Rogers, on June 2, 1979, in a small backyard ceremony in Littleton, Colorado. Together they built a full and beautiful life. He was a devoted husband and father, and when his daughters came along, they became the center of his world. He laughed easily and often — sometimes laughing at his own jokes more than others did — and that laugh was one of the great gifts he gave to everyone around him.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Suzanne Rogers Schmachtenberger; his daughters, Katharine and Ellsbeth Schmachtenberger; and his siblings, Christine Fuentes, Kim Schmachtenberger, and Robin Schmachtenberger; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Rita Schmachtenberger, and his brother, Dan Schmachtenberger.
Chris Schmachtenberger leaves behind a legacy of craftsmanship, curiosity, and quiet generosity. He was a fixer, a builder, a rider, a maker, a wanderer, and above all, a family man. The world was better for having him in it, and those who knew him are better for it too.
A Funeral Mass for Chris will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. MT at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, followed by a Celebration of Life starting at 12:30 at Applewood Golf Course, Golden Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Chris's name to -
Pathways of Northern Colorado Hospice https://pathways-care.org/give-now
or the American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org
Memory wall
Chris had a brightness in his eyes, a generous spirit and one of the best laughs.
We will cherish the woodcraft spoons he made us for our kitchen and miss the hot sauce and chili oil soon good.
Bless those who loved him and may they be comforted during their grief.
I was so excited at the possibility of working with him again on a major project. His enthusiasm was always so infectious and the twinkle in his eyes when he came up with yet another “out of the box” solution was a joy to see.
He had so many things yet to share his immense knowledge about.
He was the consummate engineer and will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Suzanne and the girls.
Family tree
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