.png)
.png)
Harold W. Adolf
Harold W. Adolf
Mar 7, 1934 — Oct 5, 2026
Formerly of Stratton, Colorado
Harold was born March 7, 1934, to John S. and Lydia (Stahlecker) Adolf. He was christened and confirmed at Hope Church, North of Bethune, Colorado, and remained a member throughout his life.
Harold, his younger brother Wilford, and younger sister Velda were raised on the farm north of Bethune, along with crops, dairy cattle, chickens, and a large garden. Harold attended the one- room school, Plainview, through the eighth grade.
Harold was drafted to the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1955. He expected to be sent overseas with fellow draftees but instead was assigned to the Veterinary Corp and spent most of his service on independent duty in California inspecting meat and fish plants processing food for the military. He reported to the Presidio on San Francisco Bay and always remembered what fine stables those horses had. He earned his high school diploma while in the Army.
After two years of service in the Army, Harold worked at various ranches and tried his hand at other things, including being a salesman at the Ford Dealership in Burlington. One year he was the Salesman of the Year because of his school bus sales contracts throughout eastern Colorado. Harold was also lead singer and rhythm guitar player for the Country Couzins, which continues to play in Eastern Colorado with another generation of musicians. He was always popular at parties and family gatherings as well as many weddings and funerals, where his signature song "The Auctioneer Song" was often requested (yes, at both weddings and funerals).
Harold spent most of his life working with cattle and horses and being an auctioneer for livestock, farm, and household auctions across Colorado. He showed cattle at Kansas City, Chicago, Denver, and Phoenix.
In 1962, Harold married Judith (Kalisch) and they had three children, Shandra "Tiger", Todd, and Sheri. He managed the Double Jay R ranch in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, running 600 head of cows on the ranch. Harold was active in Colorado and National Cattlemen's Association, and the San Luis Valley Water Board, and served various roles with local organizations.
Harold played a key role in the 1970s American "exotic cattle boom", bringing the Simmental breed, formerly a continental European cattle breed into the high-altitude conditions of the San Luis Valley and Chaffee County. This required careful herd management and early use of ovarian transplants in cattle. He developed a strong reputation for quality livestock, making the Double Jay R Ranch a major player in Colorado's purebred cattle industry, frequently hosting high-profile production events like the annual Columbus Day Simmental Discovery Sale, bringing buyers from all around the country for two days of auction, eating, and networking.
Harold and Judy divorced in 1982. Judy passed away in 1992. Harold moved the family to Stratton, Colorado in 1983, where he worked at the Stratton Livestock Auction. While working at the sale barn, Harold met his second wife, Marilyn (Corwin) Adolf. They knew each other for six years before they started dating. After a short courtship, Harold and Marilyn were united in marriage on August 11, 1990, in Stratton, CO. Harold welcomed Marilyn's five children, Marc, Kim, Jenny, Jill, and Julie to his family along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved having a large family and was a loyal follower for all their sports and 4-H activities. He and Marilyn had a small farm, a little over 300 acres, and feedlot west of Stratton. Harold farmed hay, wheat, and corn, and experimented with crops like rapeseed for oil. Marilyn passed away on October 13, 2022, after 32 years of marriage.
A year after Marilyn's death, Harold decided to spend the winter in Arizona where it was warm and he was closer to Todd. He sold the farm in Stratton, and retired to Wickenburg, Arizona. He made many friends and had a vibrant social life there. He was also close to Todd, and occasionally rode horses, helped with chores, and ran errands with Todd. He had great fun driving his "Hoopie", a street-legal side-by-side very popular in the area, all over Wickenburg in his final years. He passed away peacefully in Arizona with family at his side on October 5, 2026.
Harold is survived by his three children, Shandra "Tiger" Adolf (Ed Thomas) of Vallejo, CA; Todd (Kim) Adolf, Morristown, AZ; and Sheri (Jon)Thompson of Fort Collins, CO, and five step-children Marc (Robbi) Pottorff of Goodland, KS; Kim Davison of Burlington, CO; Jenny Reeverts of Arvada, CO; Jill (Joel) Tanner of Vona, CO; and Julie (Mike) Myers of Frederick, CO. He is also survived by his sister Velda (Raymond) Dobler of Burlington, CO; one grandchild, Makayla Adolf, and 20 step-grandchildren Bryan Thomas, Carolyn (Jacob) Helms, Logan Vaughn, and Denton (Cynthia) Vaughn, Misti Pottorff, Melissa (Andy) Leavitt, Valoree (Dan) Lovato, Dana Davison, Colton Davison, Canaan (Bekah) Reeverts, Keala (Jason) Widdifield, Mackenzie (David) Nunez, Kaylynne (Eric) Hainey, Dillon (Shelby) Tanner, Nathan Tanner, LeAnn Tanner, and Caleb Tanner, Mason Myers, Gavin (Riley) Myers, and Dane (Morgan) Myers; and 24 step great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made out to the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital, The Legacy at Burlington, Grace Manor Care Center or to Aspen Leaf Assisted Living Residence and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Memorial Service
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
Hope Congregational Church
Comments