Ronald Clyde Friehauf, 79, of Brush, passed away on Monday, April 26, 2021, at Anschutz Medical Center, UC Health in Aurora, CO.

Clyde was born February 12, 1942, at Eben Ezer Hospital in Brush to Edwin J. Friehauf and Lydia (Reichert) Friehauf.  He was the middle of five children.  Clyde grew up on the family farm North of Brush, graduated from Fairview Country Grade School and then Brush High School in 1960.  While at BHS, Clyde wrestled and played baseball.  After high school he attended Colorado State University and continued to wrestle in the intermural program, garnering a silver medal his freshmen year.  In 1964 he graduated from Colorado State University, earning his B.S. Degree in Mathematics with an emphasis in Computer Programming.

After graduating from CSU, Clyde was employed at the CSU Computer Center as a computer programmer and analyst when he wrote the first computer user manual for CSU.  He worked at CSU until 1971 which also included a short stint at Central Data Corp. in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.  While working at CSU, Clyde met his future bride, Joy, who was attending CSU.

Clyde married Joyce (Joy) Schuelke on August 8, 1971 in Fort Collins, CO.  At their home in Brush they raised three children, Blayne, Mindy and Chad.  His wife, children and grandchildren were the loves of his life.  He spent several hours playing card and board games with anyone that wanted to play.  Playing Qwirkle with Joy almost daily in the later years.  Clyde was an avid sports fan of the Brush Beetdiggers, Colorado School of Mines Orediggers, Colorado State Rams, Denver Broncos and New York Yankees.  He was affectionally known as the "Referee in the Bleachers" by many sports officials and fans.  He enjoyed spending many years watching family and friends playing sports at home and on the road.  Recently, Papa Ron watched his 'buddies' (grandsons) play in many different sporting events.

Clyde loved farming, and always helped his dad when possible.  Upon returning to Brush in 1971, he started farming on his own farm.  After his dad retired from farming in 1980, he added the family farm to his acreage.  Farming was extra special back in the days harvesting sugar beets, pinto beans, grains, corn, alfalfa and cutting silage.  He enjoyed feeding a couple semi-loads of cattle and other livestock including a few hogs and chickens.  Later, he would only feed a few head of cattle to butcher.  Gardening was special too.  It brought produce to the table, as well as winning several ribbons for top prize pinto beans, shelled corn and tallest corn at the Morgan County Fair.

Clyde was forced to retire on April 6, 2018 at the age of 76 when he had an LVAD (heart pump) put into his heart.  When waking up from surgery, Mindy asked Clyde how he was doing, he said 'my Yankees' and pointed to the TV.  Back at home, despite the doctor's recommendations, he continued working around the farm, burning weeds, grinding corn, cutting alfalfa and feeding some calves each year.  You can take the kid out of the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the kid.

Clyde was an active member of the Immanuel Congregational Church, where he was baptized, confirmed, served on the board and taught Sunday School.  He was a member of the Colorado State Alumni Association and was the Secretary-Treasurer for the Beaver Creek Ditch Company and the Camden Lateral Company for many years.  He is also a former member of the Great Western Sugar Company.

Clyde is survived by his wife, Joy of Brush; three children, Blayne (Colinda) of Lake Jackson, TX; Mindy (Jason) Mills of Berthoud, CO and Chad (Leenae) of Denver, CO.  Five grandchildren, Dylan and Maddox Mills; Travis and Benjamin Friehauf and Abi Mahurin. One brother, Robert Friehauf of Fort Collins and One sister, Patti Drzewiecki (Jerry) of Jackson, MI.  Sister-in-laws Fran (Edwin) Friehauf of AZ and Jean (Stan) Friehauf of Windsor, CO.  Several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Edwin F. and Stan Friehauf.

Funeral service will be Monday, May 3, 2021, at 10:00 AM at the Immanuel Congregational Church in Brush.  Interment will follow in the Brush Memorial Cemetery.  Friends who wish can make memorial gifts to the Clyde Friehauf Memorial Fund in care of Heer Mortuary (funds to be used for Brush Baseball and the Anschutz LVAD Cardiac Program).  The family has asked that all attending the funeral service to please wear a face mask.