John "Mike" "Stu" Michael Stuart

John Michael Stuart, known to those who loved him as "Mike" or "Stu," passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Mike was a soft-spoken, brilliant man with a razor-sharp wit and a deeply generous heart. He could fix anything mechanical -- cars, motorcycles, trucks, farm equipment, semis -- you name it. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of parts and reveled in creating new combinations that pushed the limits of what already existed. His favorite place was under the hood, always chasing more power and speed.

He loved sharing that knowledge with others, taking what someone was already doing and helping them do it better. If you didn't love cars when you met him, you did by the time you left.

Mike was a beloved figure in his community. He lived in Westcliffe, Colorado for most of his life, with deep family roots he honored throughout his years. He enjoyed playing both basketball and football in high school and was captain of the football team in his senior year. If there was a prank happening, he and his buddies probably instigated it. He was a fixture wherever he went, quickly becoming fast friends with everyone he met.

Mike served his country in the Navy from 1967 to 1970 as a Seabee, maintaining equipment for his fellow servicemen and carrying on a proud family tradition of military service. He was stationed in San Diego, Germany, Keflavik, Iceland, and Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. While in Iceland, Mike served as Transportation Supervisor at the radar site. He often joked that as much as he loved serving his country, he was anxious to get home -- if only to get warm. In Vietnam, he served at a major military logistics hub and naval base. When he came home in 1970, he considered himself a lucky veteran, grateful for the range of experiences his service had given him.

After returning home, Mike put his mechanical skills to work repairing all types of vehicles and equipment. Over the years, he held a variety of jobs, with a few standing out as favorites: his time in the Fire Service, working alongside his cousin in Lamar, and joining his sister and Jerry Seifert at Seifert Enterprises in the mid-1980s. He remained an invaluable part of the company until his retirement in 2012.

After retiring, Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, attributed to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. Even so, he was determined to live life to the fullest. In his later years, he was well cared for by a wonderful nursing home staff who loved him.

Mike was the last of his generation of Stuart children. He is preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Margaret Stuart, brothers Herb and Don, his sister Mary Seifert, and his stepbrother Charley. He is survived by his three children: Christy West (husband Rick West and children Ashley, Taylor, and Cameron), Jennifer Clayton (husband Scott Clayton and children Sam and Kathryn), Robert Buffum (wife Wendy Stroup), and several nephews, nieces, and extended family members.

He had deep respect for genuine service and care for others. Whenever he could help, he did -- without fuss and without fanfare. He was the kind of friend you could count on.

Mike's life was a legacy of quiet, hardworking responsibility lived alongside a joyful pursuit of speed and adventure. His creativity, his brilliance, and his spirit will be deeply missed. He lived the best life he could, every single day. And that is success.

Interment will be held on Friday, June 26, 206 at 12:00 noon at

Pikes Peak National Cemetery

10545 Drennan Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80925

A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 27, 2026

Stuart Welding & Fabrication

15 Enterprise Drive

Westcliffe, CO 81252

Mike loved the fire department, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District, PO Box 324, Westcliffe, CO 81252.