Obituary: Stephen Rieschl

July 16, 1937 – April 26, 2025 
Colorado Ski Hall of Famer, Stephen Reinhold Rieschl, 87, made his final ski jump into the arms of Jesus on April 26, 2025.
After graduating from Western State College in 1959, Steve represented the United States as a ski jumper in the 1960 Winter Olympic games at Squaw Valley, California.
While he was at WSC Steve began his long career of teaching and coaching skiers. He coached local teams, Junior National teams and in 1962 was captain of the US Nordic Ski Team. Steve started coaching in Gunnison, where he also helped to develop the local slalom and ski jumping area called Cranor Hill. He went on to coach in Summit County, Aspen and Steamboat Springs.
Steve began the first commercial ski touring school in the United States in 1969, Steve Rieschl’s Ski Touring School, with one instructor. That eventually grew to 14 instructors and became the Vail Touring School in 1974.
In addition to his skiing accomplishments, Steve served his country in the Naval Reserves. He was a legendary dancer, an author, a yodeler, a prolific letter writer, a wonderful friend and mentor to many and could dead pan a joke with the best of them. Most importantly, he was a follower of Jesus and lived to share that joy with others.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am, June 14, 2025, at Clearview Community Church in Buena Vista, Colorado. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Full obituary available at ViegutFuneralHome.com