Wayne K Schrader

MEMORIAL SERVICE TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED

With deep love and gratitude, our family celebrates the incredible life of Wayne Kenneth Schrader, who passed away on November 9th, 2025 at the age of 96. He was a man of remarkable grit, humor, heart, and work ethic that built both a legacy and a family. He was tough as nails yet endlessly tender toward those he loved.

Born on June 5, 1929 in Laramie, WY to Wayne and Elizabeth Schrader, Wayne spent the majority his life in Fort Collins, CO. He attended Fort Collins High School and completed a college degree in Animal Husbandry at Colorado Aggies. Wayne was married to Phyllis Stone in 1951, and they were lovingly married for over 70 years. He was hopelessly devoted to her, his partner in everything from business to family to the daily joys of life. She lovingly referred to him as “Waynesy love.”

He took great pride in his three children, Perry, Steve, and Jennifer. He loved being a grandpa to seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He always encouraged everyone to succeed and never hesitated to offer a bit of advice, or an unsolicited opinion, to help them get there. Together, Wayne and Phyllis raised a close-knit family that shared countless holidays, family vacations, and laughter-filled gatherings. Wayne loved nothing more than to spend time working and playing with his family.

In 1937, along with his father, Wayne founded and operated Schrader Oil Company. Under Wayne’s stewardship, Schrader Oil became a respected cornerstone of our community. Though he was a successful businessman, Wayne may have been most proud of the fact that he worked side by side with his three children, and eventually some grandchildren, for decades. Running the company with the same mix of hard work, stubbornness, and laughter that defined him. The family’s ability to stay close, in business and in life, is a rare gift, one that reflects his deep belief in family above all else. His success was earned through hard work, determination, and the kind of perseverance that defined his generation.

Wayne was a pillar of his community. He was Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club, President of Lions Club, involved in the Fort Collins Chamber, served as a bank board member for First National Bank, served on the Poudre Valley Hospital board and was also the President of his Colorado, Wyoming Oil Marketers Association. Wayne and Phyllis were generous supports of many organizations, including CSU and the St. Lukes Episcopal Church. He was a social butterfly, always in the middle of the action, with a knack for connecting with everyone he met. Whether at the office, football game, or a community gathering, he never met a stranger.

Wayne was a devoted Husband and Father and loved doing activities with his family. From baseball and tennis to camping, fishing, football games, Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts, and driving his kids countless hours to Vail and to many ski races. He once bought an old tour bus from Grey Line and converted it into a motorhome. The family traveled in that bus all four season making long lasting memories.  The same bus Phyllis lovingly referred to it as The DB, (the Damn Bus). He was such an amazing handyman that he could build anything with his garage sale tools.

Wayne was an excellent and avid fly fisherman, spending many hours wading the waters of his beloved Trails End Ranch in Livermore, CO. Wayne also spent many years living part time in Fort Myers, FL, where he took up running some sizable yachts with the help of his trusty first mate, Phyllis. He was a creative problem solver and there was truly never a time that he wasn’t working on a project.

Those who knew him will smile remembering his stories and quirks. How he wore the same old vest every single day, long past the point it should’ve retired and how, after Phyllis secretly threw it away, she ended up helping him look for it before he finally gave in and bought a new one. His get it done attitude was second to none.  For example, when finding Phyllis’s car and the kids stuck in the snow off the road, instead of asking for help he simply fished tailed it through the flat part of the field and popped it back on the road.

He lived a life full of love, laughter, hard work and purpose. He built an empire not only in business but in family, the true heart of his legacy. He embodied the American dream and leaves behind a family forever grateful to have called him theirs. He will be deeply missed.

Donations can be made on behalf of Wayne to the Livermore Fire Department

A service will be held on December 12th, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in the Saint Luke's Episcopal Church. Private family burial will be held in the Grandview Cemetery.