Ralph "Jerry" Grage
July 7, 1939
May 27, 2025
Ralph "Jerry" Grage of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away in the presence of his family on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Ralph Jerome Campbell was born on July 7, 1939,to Clyde Campbell and Florence Lulabell Vance Campbell on the family ranch nestled between the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Reservations in Timber Lake, South Dakota. He grew up with his cousins, indigenous friends, and lots of ranch folks--all of whom would shape his life to come.
Jerry's mother later married Clarence Grage who adopted Jerry. The family relocated to Pierre. There, as a very rowdy Junior High boy, Jerry met the love of his life, Judene Adair Allen. They married following high school graduation and moved to Rapid City with the Air Force. The couple enjoyed 45 years of marriage until Judene's untimely death in 2004.
In 1963 Jerry was recruited by the American National insurance Company to open a new office in Colorado Springs. Jerry's business acumen came to fruition as he quickly became the agency's new national salesman of the year. He parlayed his insurance successes into developing affordable housing in Pueblo, Pueblo West, Woodland Park, Colorado Springs, and Rapid City. His development career led him to become an early franchisee of a new and fast-growing chain, Taco Bell. His initial four restaurants eventually became Colomex, Incorporated, with restaurants throughout southern and southeastern Colorado. The company also added self-storage and Pizza Huts to their holdings.
Despite it being a business, Colomex's employees became part of an extended family. Organizational innovations included separate employee training centers in Pueblo and in Colorado Springs, tuition assistance programs for University and trade school, GPA pay raises for High School students, English as a second language classes for employees through CPCD(Head Start), self-protection classes for employess through Kid Power, and Working Smarter classes for all management level employees. Jerry was awarded the Glen Bell Award as the nation's leading Taco Bell franchisee and was also appointed to the Small Business Administration of Colorado by President Gerald Ford. Despite the honors, one of Jerry's greatest rewards was the Colomex family. Many employees stayed with the company for over 20 years, something that meant a great deal to him.
Believing that business had a responsibility to community, Jerry served in various capacities for Goodwill Industries, Penrose Hospital, The Economic Development Corporation, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation; he made significant gifts for the construction of the Pueblo River Walk, the Broadmoor World Arena, The United States Olympic Museum, and the new Summit House on Pikes Peak. Jerry co-founded the Alcohol Recovery Center (The ARC) in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado. He was the recipient of the Guiding Light award by Goodwill Industries. He gave generously to the University of Colorado Buffaloes and was named an honorary Buff in ceremonies at Folsom field in Boulder. He served as the president of the Cheyenne Mountain High School Booster Club for many years.
In his free time he loved playing golf. He was a member of the Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Arizona, the Country Club of Colorado, and the Broadmoor Golf Club. His golf highlights included playing in the Pro-Am at the Phoenix Waste Management Open, and attending the Master's multiple times.
Jerry is survived by his wonderful sister, Janice Beemer of North Carolina, his four children, Michele (Wendell), Musette, Michael(Kevin), and Matthew (Monica). He has nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Cleo Martin and Patsy Kringel, both of South Dakota. He has many beloved nieces and nephews around the country.
Jerry was a force; He will be remembered for his love of entrepreneurship, his love for Colorado Springs, for never meeting a stranger in southern Colorado during his 60 + YEAR business career, and for never forgetting his South Dakota roots.
The family is grateful to Janie Rawlings for her years of service, to Gentle Shepherd Home Care, Compassus Hospice, and the exceptional people at Bear Creek Senior Living Center for their end of life care.
Private Gravesite ceremony: July 7th, 2025 Fairview Cemetery, 11:00 a.m.
Celebration of Life at the Broadmoor Golf Club July 20, 4-6 p.m.
We were fortunate to have you in our lives, Dad. We love you. Rest well. 4M's.

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Published by The Gazette on Jun. 8, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Ralph Grage

7 Entries

Kim O´Donoghue

July 13, 2025

I was Jerry´s executive assistant from 2001-2005. I was young and in college for business and loved working with him and the Colomex team. Jerry was a great man and I enjoyed working with him, learning about business (my degree), and hearing him talk about his days in South Dakota - he sure loved that place! He loved that I was from Montana as it is similar to South Dakota in many ways, landscape, values, etc.
We had many discussions about ranching, cowboys and all of that.
I always look fondly on my time working with him at a pivotal time in my younger life! I´m sad to hear he has passed on but I know he is with Judene and Jesus. Condolences to Michael, Michelle, Musette and Matt. He was quite the force to be reckoned with and may he rest in peace.

Shea OBrien

June 22, 2025

Jerry will be truly missed. I worked for Jerry at Taco Bell and it was my first job. I stayed with his franchise for almost 30 years. We were all family and that is what made it special. I will never work for another owner that does not treat me as he treated the people who worked for him. He made a legacy and will always be remembered. One of my favorite memories is when he danced to a Michael Jackson song with one glove on at the Christmas party. That´s where he told me why he had everyone dress up for the Christmas parties. He said every lady deserves to be a princess one time a year. Jerry will always be in our hearts.