Oct. 21, 1929 ~ Feb. 22, 2026
Bill Mitchem of Rangely, Colorado passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2026, at the age 96. He is remembered for his love of teaching, for his integrity, and for his kindness; for his enthusiasm for the high desert country of Northwest Colorado; for the knowledge, stories and photos he shared. He was always ready to share his wealth of information with anyone who showed an interest. To serve, to give, was central to his character and to his active Christian faith. He and his wife Martha wanted to make a difference. They did.
Bill was the first of four children of Martha (Akers) and Floyd Mitchem. He was born on Oct. 21, 1929, on his Akers grandparents’ farm in Elbert County, Colorado, and grew up on the family farm 10 miles south of Agate, Colorado. He graduated from Limon High School where he played football and basketball and ran track. Coach Gaskill inspired him to attend college, originally with the goal of becoming a coach.
The first in his family to attend college, Bill graduated from Colorado Teachers College (Univ. of Northern Colorado) in 1951 with a degree in sciences and education. He met Martha Louise Johnson during freshman year and they married after graduation. Daughter Patti and son Jim soon came along. Their original plan to raise cattle met an economic reality within a year and both taught at Agate High School until taking jobs as teachers in Rangely in the fall of 1956.
Bill fell in love with the high desert country of northwestern Colorado. Three more sons — Brian, Jeff and John — completed the family. He taught chemistry, physics,and earth science for 31 years. A highlight of those years were the bridge building contests and taking the team to the state and national competitions. He is fondly remembered for photo club trips and fun experiments, as well as highly respected — even by the “troublemakers.”
After retirement in 1988, Bill and Martha volunteered at the Colorado Welcome Center, traveled and pursued their photography hobby. They made enduring friendships through Grand Junction camera clubs and participated in many photographic courses and excursions. Bill found a hiking buddy in Leona Hemmerich and together they explored in and around Echo Park in Dinosaur National Monument.
In 2002, Bill and Martha along with Leona and her husband Robert opened Bedrock Depot in Dinosaur, Colorado. Bill worked alongside Leona for 20 years, and hosted the many foreign students who came to work for the summer. Talking with people who came from places near and far for the unforgettable ice cream, sandwiches and coffee was an enduring pleasure, as was getting to know the students who lived with him. He especially loved telling visitors about Echo Park and Steamboat Rock or, as he fondly called it, “the Center of the Universe”
Asked once by his daughter what career choices he might have made in an alternative life, Bill answered, “river rat.” He was hooked after his first trip. The grandchildren delighted in the half-day trips through Split Mountain, but he and Martha went on many multi-day trips on the Yampa and Green Rivers in Dinosaur National Monument as well as trips on the Green in Utah and the Salmon River in Idaho. Hatch Expeditions bartered Bill’s and Martha’s photos in exchange for a few of those trips.
Bill was a loving and caring father and greatly enjoyed his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, following their lives with interest. He had a special talent for engaging with young kids — like making funny faces to make them smile and laugh. Family and legacy were important and he spent much time pursuing the Mitchem genealogy. It was a special delight to him to gather with his siblings and cousins, near and far.
Civic involvement was yet another way Bill paid it forward. He was a member of the First Baptist Church since 1956, a founding member and longtime president of the Rio Blanco Schools Federal Credit Union, and served on the Northwestern Colorado Community College Board, the Recreation District Board and the Library Board.
Bill’s final two years were spent at Rangely Hospital in long term care, grateful for the good care and pleasant surroundings, and where he continued to share his photos and stories with staff and visitors, inspiring many with his gracious kindness.
Bill is survived by his children Patricia S. Mitchem (Fred Wildnauer) of South Berwick, Maine; Brian R. Mitchem (Sherry) of Paonia, Colorado; W. Jeffrey Mitchem (Randi) of Broomfield, Colorado; and John F. Mitchem of Freeland, Washington. Bill is also survived by his sister Peggy A. McElwain of Matheson, Colorado, and his brother John A. Mitchem of Fort Worth, Texas. He will be missed by his grandchildren Mira (Mitchem) Fleischood of Grand Junction, Colorado; Kelli Fulks of St. Peters, Missouri; Johanna Wildnauer of Victor, Idaho; Alex Mitchem of Wahiawa, Hawaii; Maggie Wildnauer of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Joe Mitchem of Boulder, Colorado; Jacob Mitchem of Los Angeles, California; Mallorie Mitchem of Seattle, Washington; Emily Mitchem and Katelyn Mitchem of Broomfield, Colorado; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by wife Martha (Johnson) Mitchem, son James E. Mitchem, granddaughter Renee Mitchem, daughter-in-law Tracie (Hover) Mitchem, and brother Kenneth L. Mitchem.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bill and Martha Mitchem Scholarship Fund at Rangely High School, 234 Panther Way; or Rangely Hospital District Foundation, 225 Eagle Crest Drive, Rangely, Colorado, 81648.
The family invites all who loved and respected Bill to celebrate his life with them on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 2 p.m. at Elks Park in Rangely.
