Duane 'Rick' Bartz died at his home in Canyon Creek. Â Rick was born in Duluth, Minn. to Richard and Katie Elizabeth Moodie Zauft. Â He was later adopted by Charles Bartz. He left Duluth in 1974 and traveled around the country, playing his guitar and doing odd jobs before settling in the Glenwood Springs area in 1976.
Rick worked for many years as the driver for the Traveler bus through the CMC Seniors Program. He once said, 'I work with senior citizens and disabled persons, and I have learned that patience and kindness are the highest virtues next to love.'
He had a great love of God, family, friends and music. Rick received the Glenwood Springs Humanitarian Staff Award in 1999. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Â Rick loved fly-fishing, golf and biking. His greatest love was music. Rick had also had been a skydiver and taught guitar lessons.
Rick is survived by sister Aline Zauft Williams of Madison, Miss.; and brother Gary Richard Zauft of Clayton, Wis.