This cool story was sent to us by the Marquardt family, Walker owners who were impacted by the 2013 Colorado flood which hit Colorado one year ago today: Bill and Norma Marquardt started in the landscape business in 1974. That same year they moved to Hygiene, CO, where they raised their family and lived until the Colorado Flood of 2013 destroyed their home. They are currently in the process of rebuilding and hope to be in their new home in next few months. For the past 12 years Bill has been semi-retired, doing the occasional sprinkler job and working around his own yard. Now that yard needs to be completely re-landscaped. Bill bought his first Walker mower in 1984 and his current one is a 2007. The Walker was a victim of the flood as well. During the first days of the flood, he thought that it had been washed away along with the 5th wheel trailer and the S-10 pick-up that it was parked beside. The garage next to them was washed away too leaving the Chevy Duramax sitting on the concrete slab that had been moved 50-60 feet. As the flood waters receded the rear tires of the Walker could be seen sticking up out of the gravel. With the help of some friends and a backhoe it was dug up. It looked like it was ready for the scrap pile. Bill and Norma’s son, Brian, saw it a little differently. He was sure it could be rebuilt. While Bill spent the month on October in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant to treat cancer, Brian went to work on the Walker. This was no small task. Everything, including the engine and gear boxes had to be taken apart and cleaned of the floodwater residue. The hopper, handgrips, rear wheel fork assembly, seat and lots of other small parts had to be replaced. By the time Bill was out of the hospital, Brian was just waiting for the new hopper and seat to come in. By spring Bill and the Walker mower were both ready to get back to work.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:11:43 +0000
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