Conrad Fortarel Obituary

Conrad Fortarel, a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.  Conrad was born in Central City, CO to Massimo and Sarah Fortarel, immigrants from the Trentino region of Italy. His family owned a saloon in Russell Gulch and later moved to Brush, CO where they farmed. Conrad moved to Denver as a young man, and married Emma Faustin in 1942. He was in the Air Force in World War II, in North Africa and Southern Italy. After the war ended he returned to Denver where he worked as a mechanic and later a plumber. In the evenings he and Emma worked on properties they bought and renovated. In 1962 he purchased Shangri-La Mobile Home Park in Colorado Springs. He sold the park in the 70's and spent his retirement on his new career, woodworking. Into his early 90's he worked every day on his gardens, his cabin in the mountains, and his woodworking projects, including the crucifix and other carvings at Holy Apostles Catholic Church. He enjoyed talking with anyone he met, and always had advice for relatives, politicians and the Broncos! He is survived by wife Emma, daughter Connie (Russell) Pallone, son Michael (Maralee), grandchildren Matthew and Cara Pallone, Ashley (Brant) Dimock, and McCauley and Ellery Fortarel, and great grandchildren Leigha and Karlee Dimock, and Michael Ross Fortarel. He is also survived by sisters Rose Boettger and Viola Moore. Services will be on February 11th at 11:30am at Mt Olivet Chapel & Cemetary in Wheat Ridge, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any gifts be made to the Marian House in Colorado Springs, CO