Richard Charles Berkholz

Richard “Dick” Charles Berkholz, a longtime resident of Durango, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2024 at the age of 90.

 Richard Charles Berkholz was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 9th, 1934. Dick joined the Marine Corps in 1954 serving one enlistment. Upon separation from the Marines, he enrolled at the University of Missouri where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree of Forestry. This started his long and successful career in forestry starting in Bend, Oregon. He was then led to Montrose, Colorado in 1963 where he joined the Colorado State Forest Service. In 1965, Dick opened the Colorado State Forest Service District office in Durango, Colorado. He was the District Forester for the next 28 years and retired in 1993, after 30 years of service.

In 1965, Dick married Judy and 59 years of a wonderful marriage followed. Dick loved being with family, his grandchildren and cherished every moment with his best friend, his wife. He was a proud U.S. Marine, a devout Catholic, and come rain or shine, an all-weather fan of the Denver Broncos. He also had a passion for travel; he and Judy visited almost every state (48) in the United States via train, plane, automobile and most commonly in their RV. After retirement from the Colorado State Forest Service, he kept busy not only with traveling and family, but as an accomplished author, writing and publishing a book on the Trading Posts of the Southwest.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Margaret Berkholz, his sister Joan Donely and daughter Christine Berkholz (who is now joyfully reunited in heaven with her dad!). Dick is survived by his wife Judy, their son Bob and his daughter in law Leigh, and his two granddaughters, Madison and Riley Berkholz.

He touched many lives with his loving heart, sense of humor, kind nature and always a firm handshake. He will be missed greatly.

Funeral services will be held at St. Columba Church on Tuesday August 20th at 10 AM. Graveside military honors to follow at Greenmount Cemetery, with a reception to follow back at St. Columba reception hall. We invite all who knew him to join us in remembering a truly remarkable man.