Chip was born on November 5, 1953, to Charles Max Smith and Beverly Arlene Smith in McCook, Nebraska. He passed away on January 30, 2025, with friends and family by his side.
Chip lived life to the fullest and had many life chapters. He attended The University of Nebraska starting out playing football and then his focus changed to music and the arts. He would eventually earn a doctorate degree in music. He met his life partner Donna Harler during that time. He taught for many years at Hastings College and developed lifelong relationships with his students and fellow teachers.
After retirement from Hastings College the mountains called to him and he moved to Rollinsville, Colorado. He worked for Timberline Fire and immersed himself in the community again building relationships with neighbors, artists in the community, and the fire workers.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father. Survivors include his wife Donna, his sister Cherril Serdy, brother-in-law Joe Dehner, sister-in-law Noel Julnes Dehner, nephews Jesse Craig, Matt and Kevin Serdy, nieces Holly Julnes-Dehner and Sarah Julnes-Hayes And his good friends in the communities he has touched.
Services will be held on Sunday, February 16. There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 226 E. 1st High Street, Central City, Colorado, 80427, at 10 a.m. Then, a Celebration of Life at the Gilpin County School Auditorium at 12 p.m., 10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk, Colorado, 80422. That will be followed by a potluck lunch in the cafeteria at the Gilpin County School at 1 p.m.
The funeral and celebration of life will be live streamed and recorded for those who are not available to attend. The link is as follows https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89693012750?pwd=eTLbYVmCqZzAQi7z1JcAxaalSck5jI.1
We look forward to paying our respects and celebrating the amazing life of Chip Smith.
