Lifelong Monte Vista resident Donald K. Schall, age 75, passed away at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center in Alamosa on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

Don was born to Harold and Cody Schall on April 23, 1934 in Monte Vista, Colorado.  He attended Monte Vista High School, attended the University of Denver and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the Colorado State Teacher’s College now known as the University of Northern Colorado.  He married Marguerite (Peg) Miles in 1956.  Don served in United States Army in 1957 followed by 5 years of active reserve duty.  After working as a teacher and coach in Estes Park and in Center, Don and Peg settled in Monte Vista where they had three children.

In 1960 Don began working with his father at Schall Iron Works.  Started by his grandfather, James L. Schall, in 1909, it celebrated its 100th year as the oldest, continuously operating business in Monte Vista in 2009.  Schall Iron Works became an International Harvester and later Case-IH Dealership run by Don for 41 years.  Motivated to serve his business community, Don served on the Mountain States Hardware & Implement Association, the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, and on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Valley Federal Bank for 25 years.  He was appointed to the Governer’s Jobs Training Partnership Act Committee and also received the Private Industry Council Outstanding Volunteer Award for 20 years of service on the Rural Private Industry Council Board.

Don was a member of the Monte Vista Masonic Lodge.  He was a charter member and first President of the Monte Vista Jaycees in 1962.  Of note, he helped launch the Creede Jaycees which led to the formation of the Creede Repertory Theater.  He was a member of the Monte Vista Rotary Club from 1965 and was a Paul Harris Fellow and Senior Active member.  Among many activities for Rotary, Don was especially proud to be Zone Coordinator for the Polio Plus program that raised funds nationally to eradicate polio around the world.

Don was a founding member of the Monte Vista Emergency Food Bank in 1964 and served as treasurer for 40 years.  He was instrumental in improving its facilities in 2001-2002.  He was a member of the Rio Grande County Museum Board of Directors in the 1960s when the new building was planned and again in the 2000s, serving as President 2004-2008.  Don served on the Board of the Monte Vista Hospital and was President when it was closed.  He was General Chairman of the Commitment to Care Campaign that raised $500,000 for the Monte Vista Hospital.  He was also a member of the San Luis Valley Regional Council of the El Pomar Foundation from 2006 to 2009.

Don also served on the Monte Vista District C-8 Board of Education for 12 years, the San Luis Valley Board of Cooperative Services, and for 16 years on the Executive Committee of the Colorado Association of School Boards for which he was recognized on the Colorado Association of School Boards Honor Roll. 

For his dedicated service to the community, Don was recognized as the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1988.

In 2002 Don began serving on the Monte Vista City Council and was appointed Mayor by the Council from 2004-2006.  In this period he also served on the Colorado Municipal League.  A change in the bylaws called for public election of the City Council and Mayor, and Don was the first Mayor elected at-large for Monte Vista, an office he was proud to hold after his father served as Mayor in 1936.

He was an Elder in the Community of Christ Church and pastor of the Monte Vista congregation.

Don was a loving husband and father. In his spare time he was a private pilot, enjoyed gardening and was an avid fan of the Broncos, Celtics and Rockies.

He is survived by his wife, Peg Schall, his sister, Janys Jones, two sons -- Jeff (Sandy) Schall of Brentwood, TN, and Scott (Fran) Schall of Glendale, AZ -- one daughter, Wendy (Kent) Schall of Colorado Springs, CO, nine grandchildren -- Jim (Heather) Fryer of Phoenix, AZ; Erin Schall of Colorado Springs, CO; Nick Taylor currently serving in the Peace Corp in Mali, Africa; Megan Schall currently attending Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC; Joe Nelson currently attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO; Samantha Schall currently attending Metropolitan State College in Denver, CO; Erik Schall of Brentwood, TN; Cody Taylor-Schall of Colorado Springs, CO and Shenandoah Taylor-Schall of Colorado Springs, CO – and one great granddaughter, Karly Fryer of Phoenix, AZ.  Don was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Shirley Mabray.

A celebration of life service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the Monte Vista United Methodist Church.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s name can be made to the Monte Vista Kid’s Club at 4 Chico Camino, Monte Vista, CO, 81144. 

 Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements.