Charles David “Chad” Winters, age 37, tragically passed away in a pedestrian accident on December 1, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was born on January 4, 1988, in Bozeman, Montana, and lived at various times in Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. He largely grew up in Fort Collins, where he attended Werner Elementary, Preston Junior High, and both Poudre and Fossil Ridge High Schools.

Chad had a deep passion for literature. He graduated from Colorado State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, earning a 4.0 GPA. He was an eloquent writer, recently beginning to share some of his short stories online, and he was a walking encyclopedia when it came to books. His favorites included classics by Hemingway, Cormac McCarthy, and Herman Melville, especially Moby-Dick.

Creative in many forms, Chad also enjoyed painting and drawing and even explored playing the harmonica. He cherished time spent with family and friends and loved cooking, with enchiladas, fried rice, and macaroni and cheese being among his favorite dishes to prepare.

A sometimes-practicing vegetarian, Chad had a deep love for animals, especially cats, but he could never resist his mother’s Italian beef recipe.

Chad was the beloved son of Sandy and her husband, Bruce Shibles, of Denver, and Kelley Winters of Santa Barbara. He was deeply loved by his younger brother, Patrick Winters; his step-siblings, Tate (Emma), Elliott, and Robin Shibles; his best friend and cousin, Gabe Gardner; and his cousin, Kara Gardner. He is also remembered with love by many extended family members and friends, including his lifelong friend Jeff Aberle, all of whom will miss him profoundly.

Chad was recently baptized into the Mennonite Church. Though his life ended far too soon, his presence lives on in every life he touched and in every moment of beauty he deeply appreciated. He will be profoundly missed.

Donations in memory of Charles (Chad) Winters are welcome to the Murphy Center for Hope, 245 Conifer Street, Fort Collins, CO. 

https://www.homewardalliance.org/murphy-center/ 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 1-4pm at The Post in Estes Park. https://www.thepostcolorado.com/location/estes-park/ Please reply to [email protected] if you plan to attend.