Hilbert Schauer always served, from his time in the Army during World War II through his career dedicated to public service, including two years on the Colorado Supreme Court.
Schauer died Sunday of natural causes at Denver Hospice. He was 95.
Born in North Dakota, Schauer grew up on the plains of Kansas, running his first team of plowing horses when he was 7 years old.
“He started off life working hard, and he never stopped,” said son Stephen Schauer, 62, of Parker. “He’s the hardest-working guy I ever knew.”
Schauer left the farm in 1942 when he was drafted into the Army. He attended Officer Candidate School and served in Europe as a first lieutenant, where he commanded a company of black soldiers — the Army was segregated at the time.
He met his wife, Jimmie Ruth Conner, in Texas after the war, and they married in 1947. Schauer earned his law degree at the University of Denver Law School and began a long career in public service, beginning when he was elected as a municipal judge in Sterling. Schauer’s career included a brief stint on the state Supreme Court from 1965-67 and as the director of the state Department of Institutions. He later was a U.S. magistrate before retiring in 1991.
“He just believed in our system and believed that for it to work, people had to participate, which is what he did,” his son said.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church in Parker.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the church.
