Karl Richard Schmutz

Karl Richard Schmutz, 68, passed away, Saturday, March 22, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, after struggling with health issues. He was born July 31, 1956 in Taumarunui, New Zealand, the oldest of 4 boys of Fritz Schmutz and Nellie Grace Bird Schmutz. His parents met in New Zealand when his father, a Swiss engineer, was sent to build the country’s first ski lift on Mt. Ruapehu. They later moved to Switzerland until Karl was 11 years old, when they relocated to Boulder, Colorado in 1967.

After graduating from Boulder High School, Karl went to Switerland and completed an apprenticeship in heavy steel construction at Stadeli Lift Company, AG., following in his father’s footsteps.

Karl met his wife Judy Marion Trapp Schmutz in Geometry class at Boulder High School. They were married on January 29, 1977 in Boulder. They were married for 48 years.

Karl joined the United States Air Force in September 1976 and was stationed in Mt. Home, Idaho where he remained during his enlistment. The family then moved back to Colorado where Karl worked mainly in the welding industry. Over the years they lived in Oklahoma, where Karl worked in the oil fields and New Hampshire and Arizona where he worked in the ski resort industry as a ski lift maintenance manager.

In 1995 Karl opened his own welding fabrication shop, Crossbow Enterprises, Inc. in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Karl and Judy have 2 sons, Christian and Loren and 3 grandsons, Kristofer, Peyton and Christian, Jr.

Karl was a devoted husband and father. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, photography, playing the Swiss accordion and listening to music of all genres, boating and especially riding his motorcycle. Life was never dull living with Karl. He was always coming up with a new adventure; finding new places to visit and investigate or move to experience something new. He was very gregarious and enjoyed meeting new people wherever he went. Karl was a very principled man; a man of integrity and was generous to a fault. He was one in a million!

Karl was preceded in death by his son, Christian Keenan Schmutz and his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Trapp Schmutz, Eagar; son, Loren Schmutz, Eagar; grandsons, Christian Schmutz, Jr., Eagar; Kristofer Schmutz, Peyton Schmutz and brothers, Michel (Heidi) Schmutz, Peter Schmutz and Roger Schmutz, all of Longmont, Colorado.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, April 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Junk & Java, Springerville. In lieu of flowers, take the person you love the most out to lunch and tell them you love them.