In Memory of Alden Bertroch

Alden Mark Bertroch

April 17, 1946–Oct. 3, 2013

Alden Mark Bertroch, 67, of Glade Park, passed away Oct. 3, 2013, doing one of the things he loved most: riding his Harley on the open road.

Alden was born in Brush, Colo., but grew up in Gypsum, where he attended Eagle Valley High School.

Displaying an early interest in all things mechanical, he worked at the Eagle Airport and in the mechanic shop at Vail resort.

He also enjoyed ranch work, doing everything from herding cattle to baling hay.

His work as a mechanic, logger and ranch hand took him to Idaho to Montana to Alaska, and back to Mesa County. For over 26 years, Alden and his wife, Susan, owned J.B.J. Trucking. They drove all over the United States.

Most recently, he worked for Mountain Island Ranch on Glade Park as a ranch hand.

He was a successful and hard-working jack-of-all-trades.

Alden is survived by his wife, Susan, and his three daughters: Jenni (Gary) Boone, Jessi (Jon) Schmalz and Barbara (David) Edwards; sisters Alveda (Jerry) Mayne, Alexis “Annie” Struble and Loyette Bertroch; 7 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

He previously was married to Connie (Mike) Brach.

Alden was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alveda Bertroch.

Laid-back, open-minded and quick to laugh, Alden was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

He was a longtime member of The Tribe and will be missed by his brothers.

An open house to celebrate Alden’s life was held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Glade Park Community Center, 101 16.5 Road.

In lieu of flowers, people can make donations in Alden’s name to Ronald McDonald House, 932 Potomac Circle, Aurora, CO, 80011, or to an account set up to cover his expenses at First National Bank of the Rockies under Alden Bertroch Memorial Account.

Alden loved the book “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach. He read it aloud to his daughters when they were young and gifted copies to friends and family members.

This passage is one his family thought particularly indicative of Alden’s approach to life:

“How much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s a reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly.”