William Wallace

William Nathaniel Wallace was born December 5, 1985 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He made his mark in elementary school as a star football player, playing both offense and defense. He moved with his family to Westminster, Colorado in 1998, where he soon joined the City of Denver Bagpipe Band with Dave. After graduating from Legacy Ridge High School he enrolled at Colorado State University, where he studied environmental health. Will worked in the CSU Environmental Health Ergonomics and Risk Management department as a student and was hired after graduation as Safety Officer for outlying CSU offices. This past March, he joined the Thunder Mountain crew where he thrived with their philosophy, and the comradery he found there.

Will was known to his friends and family as both smart and a smart-ass (the story of his replacement of Kim’s Christmas letter with an outrageously fictionalized one has become legendary), generous with laughter and most everything else, and loyal. He saw his role in life as being a protector; the tattoo across his shoulders symbolized being a protective cloak for his loved ones. He enjoyed taking care of others by cooking for them, often making mass quantities of chicken enchiladas or putting on big barbeques.

Will lived life to the fullest. His knowledge of nature and his keen eye enabled him, and thus his companions, to get more out of any outing. In Costa Rica, he carefully lifted damp leaf after damp leaf to uncover tiny colorful frogs. Snorkeling in Hawaii, he pointed out flounders buried in the sand. His curiosity knew no bounds and he loved learning. One time a conversation with his father about the blue haze in pine forests spurred him to research what caused it. He discovered it was the aerosolized compounds with crazy names and called to tell Dave what they were. He loved the outdoors, hiking, fishing, rafting, and camping whenever he could, often with his beloved dogs.

Will traveled a good part of the West on his motorcycle, making friends and creating new stories to share. His first Harley was an old Sportster that needed work, so he learned how to rebuild it. He traded it in for a red Harley Fat Bob, Christine, and put thousands of miles on her riding to Oregon to visit cousins. Twice, he and his dad took round-trip rides to southwest Colorado in the fall, journeys they both treasured.

Will was predeceased by his grandfathers, John Wallace the gentle fisherman, and Bill Bonds, the golfing raconteur. He is survived by his parents, David and Kim Wallace; sister Bethany and her partner Spencer Madison; and his grandmothers, Bette Bonds and Bobbie Wallace. His extended family includes Craig Bonds with cousins Carl Bonds and children Tanner, Lexie, and Brooke; Lianna and Shane Leschinsky and children Chelsea, Cheyanne, and Hunter; Kyle and Elaine Bonds with cousins Gracie and Joe Plowman and Lena Bonds; Kevin Bonds and his husband Scott Mauk. Second cousins-who-are-more-like-siblings include Dave DeBlaker and Shelley Snow, and Tom Deblaker and Liz Kleinfeld with their children Young Dave DeBlaker and Lily Kleinfeld-Hamilton. His great-aunt and uncle Donna and Barry Wallace were particularly involved in Will’s life.

A celebration of Will’s life will be held at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson, 4250 Byrd Dr, Loveland, CO 80538, on Wednesday, September 20th, from 6:30 to 8:00. BBQ and Sushi, Will’s favorites, will be served. Biking or hiking attire would be fitting.