Frank Allen Reigel

Frank Allen Reigel was “found under a cabbage leaf,” according to his mother, on January 1, 1941, in Penrose, Colorado, the second of four children born to Edgar and Paula Strah Reigel. Times were hard. Edgar’s career in prospecting and working mining claims was not sufficient to support his family. The marriage dissolved, leaving Paula to raise the children on her own, very successfully, thanks to her hard work, resourcefulness, and sterling character, attributes she passed on to her children.

These abilities shaped the rest of Frank’s life, and enabled him to be the knowledgeable, problem-solving wizard so valued and appreciated by his family, friends, and neighbors. At age 11, Frank contracted rheumatic fever, which damaged his heart and required a long convalescence, which he spent reading every book in the Canon City library. Upon his recovery, he was told he would have to take antibiotics for the rest of his life, and to plan on a career in some sort of desk job; advice which inspired him to lead the most physically active life possible, for his next 70 years.

While attending Canon City High School, Frank worked early morning hours at a bakery, collected minerals for a rock shop, and hunted, to help feed his family. Summer jobs included herding sheep, collecting bristlecone pine seeds for the U.S. Forest Service, and working in a cement factory. He earned the tuition for attending the University of Colorado in Boulder by work in the campus food service, augmented by a railroad scholarship, and by summer employment as a surveyor for subdivisions around Colorado Springs, clearing brush at the site of the future Air Force Academy, caretaking a golf course, and working at the Climax Mine in Leadville.

Frank and his first wife, Haidee, welcomed daughter Julia in 1965 while completing his BS degrees in Physics and Organic Chemistry. He worked at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder, and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Nuclear Physics from San Jose State University, in California.

Back in Colorado, he became a product test engineer at IBM, where he also developed software for traffic flow patterns, and built his first personal computer. In 1975 he met Lisa Merrin and her two toddlers; their bond formed a strong partnership for the next 47 years.

Frank’s early experiment in raising huskies caused him to explore areas in the mountains west of Boulder, where he could camp out with his pack of dogs. He began to purchase properties southeast of Sugarloaf Mountain in the 1960’s, and taught himself to build, plumb, and wire houses; first an A-frame, next a 12- sided, 3 story tower, and lastly a round cordwood cabin. These burned up in the Black Tiger fire in 1989. Undeterred by the loss of his experimental structures, and by the burn injuries suffered in attempting to save a neighbor’s home, he immediately initiated rebuilding plans, not only for his own structures, but also for others in the neighborhood. He organized community work parties, and mentored the rebuilding efforts, making sure the homes were now built of fire-resistant materials, were up to code, and as energy efficient as possible.

Frank’s unquenchable curiosity led him to earn a pilot’s license, and to build, and fly, an experimental kit plane, at the age of 63. He was a tinkerer and inventor, designing odd machines, building furniture, turning plates and bowls on his wood lathe. He was able to repair almost anything.

In 2014 Frank’s hard-working heart required replacement of 2 valves , which restored his strength and ambition, and he completed 2 final building projects in 2018. He continued his active lifestyle, which included yearly mowing of his 6 acres to prevent wildfires, securing enough firewood for the winters, and snowplowing.

With the onset of problematic cardiac symptoms, he chose to have another valve replacement in October, 2022, hoping to restore his strength. The valve worked well, but the rest of his heart was too tired, and gave out on November 5th, 2022.

Though physically damaged, Frank’s heart was clear and strong, kind, compassionate, generous, wise, and honorable. We are all grateful beneficiaries of his 81 years of life and caring.

Missing him are his wife Lisa Merrin, children Julia Reigel, Phoebe Merrin Carter, partner Greg, and grandsons John and Owen Carter, Theo Merrin, partner Addy Sage and grandson Emmett Merrin. He is also survived by brothers David and Tom Reigel, sister Paula Day, and their respective children.

Donations in his name to the Sugarloaf Volunteer Fire Department, or the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity will be gratefully accepted.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Reigel family.