Rick Walberg, 'the face' of Fort Collins Sam's Club, dead at 65

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·2 min read
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Rick Walberg, a familiar Fort Collins face and longtime Sam's Club greeter, died Jan. 2 after a five-month battle with cancer.

Rick, 65, spent much of his life in Fort Collins. The Coloradoan wrote about him — from his childhood working at his parents' downtown service station to his more recent years as "the face" of Fort Collins' Sam's Club — in November. At the time, Rick had been diagnosed with stage 3-4 bladder cancer three months prior and entered hospice care at his west Fort Collins home.

"I have seen so many people come in and out of his front door, and I have heard so many people tell me what a blessing he has been to them in the simplest ways. His smile, his greetings at the front door, how he just made their day feel pleasant — little things like that," Rick's daughter, Brenda Walberg, told the Coloradoan. "You don’t always get to hear those things about your parents."

Rick Walberg with his daughter, Brenda. Rick, 65, died Jan. 2 after a five-month battle with bladder cancer. He had lived most of his life in Fort Collins and was known most recently for his years greeting customers at Fort Collins' Sam's Club.
Rick Walberg with his daughter, Brenda. Rick, 65, died Jan. 2 after a five-month battle with bladder cancer. He had lived most of his life in Fort Collins and was known most recently for his years greeting customers at Fort Collins' Sam's Club.

After working at his parents' service station and, later, their Jefferson Street tire shop Marlen Tire Service, Rick went to work for Sam's Club in its tire shop in 2000. He worked there for roughly eight years before moving to the store's front door, where he greeted customers from his power wheelchair — Rick's primary means of getting around due to muscular dystrophy.

While Brenda is perennially late for things and joked that she runs on "Brenda time," she said her dad operated on "Rick time."

"He was supposed to die when he was 50 — that was the life expectancy they gave him when he was diagnosed (with muscular dystrophy) at 21," she said, noting that her dad had hidden that from her for most of her life. "Then he got this cancer diagnosis and ... at one point, a nurse had said he was going to die at Thanksgiving. We were prepared for that, but he swore he would make it to Christmas."

"Then his (care team) came in and said he wasn’t going to make it past Sunday. He heard that and he said, 'psh, I’m going to make it into the new year,' " Brenda added. "That’s 'Rick time.' "

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After spending the holidays on hospice care, Rick died at his home surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by Brenda and her husband, Matt Gonzales; as well as grandsons Hunter Nowels and David Bowser. He is also survived by his stepfather, Reid Jacob; younger brother David; sister-in-law Anita; one nephew and two nieces.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Stuart St. His service will be open the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear Broncos gear in honor of Rick's favorite team.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Rick Walberg, 'the face' of Fort Collins Sam's Club, dead at 65