Michael Kent Schudel passed away at his home on February 5, 2026. He was born on February 25, 1959, in Alton, Illinois, to Carolyn Sue Walker and Donald Lee Schudel. He would have celebrated his sixty seventh birthday later this month. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he graduated from Widefield High School in 1977. In his youth and teenage years, he was very athletic, ran track, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, a reflection of his determination and commitment from an early age.

His greatest accomplishments are his four daughters, who survive him: Marlo, Randi, Shanna, and Lauren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Sue Schudel, and his sister in law, Roberta Schudel. He is survived by his father, Donald Lee Schudel, and his brother, Jeffrey Schudel.

He was a grandfather to seventeen surviving grandchildren: Shantelle, Roman, Vaughn, Gracelynn, Ruby, Valynn, Finn, Lincoln, Maleah, Shayla, Donaven, Sisco, Jules, Sallu, Olive, John, and Shepherd; and a great grandfather to Rylan, with another great grandchild on the way. His strength, humor, intelligence, and determination will live on through the generations that follow.

An avid sports enthusiast, Michael loved the outdoors and had a deep love for nature. He created lasting memories through water skiing, teaching his daughters how to ski, camping trips, and family gatherings at the Lake of the Ozarks with grandparents, his surviving nephews, Steven and Danny, and extended family. He cherished his dogs and the squirrels he fed and watched. He also enjoyed card games, board games, and brain teasers, anything that challenged the mind and brought family together. Those shared moments in nature and around the table were some of the most meaningful chapters of his life.

He built and dedicated his life to Fountain Valley Flooring, pouring his heart and soul into the business until the day he passed. Those who worked alongside him described him as meticulous, intelligent, and principled, protective of his business partnerships with integrity. He held standards not out of harshness, but because he understood that accountability and precision were what sustained long term success.

In his later years, he spent a great deal of time with his father, crafting hand-turned wooden bowls and other pieces that required patience, effort, and skill. Throughout his life, his sense of humor was always there, finding humor in the simple things.

Michael was a complicated man whose strength, humor, intelligence, and determination shaped those around him. His love was experienced in different ways by those closest to him. Love is not always seen, and it is not always heard, but it is felt. It is felt in the memories, in the moments shared, and even in the things left unspoken. It lives on in those who knew him, and we hope that he finds peace where he is now.