Marshall August Wakat III

Marshall “Gus” August Wakat III of Vail, Colorado, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, and coach passed away on February 21, 2026. Gus was born in Charleston, South Carolina on November 1, 1972. He is survived by his wife Kristen (Dunn) Wakat, his two sons Marshall “Gus” August Wakat IV and Levon David Wakat, his brother Marty Allen Wakat (and wife Karie) of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, his golden doodle Chewy, his mother-in-law Susan Dunn of Florida, his sister-in-law Amy Dunn of Denver, Colorado, nephews Joseph Peternel and Michael Peternel of Ohio, his niece Addison Von Steeg of Denver, Colorado, his Aunt Linda Brown and Uncle Lynn Brown of Dayton Ohio, and a village of close friends around the country. He was predeceased by his mother Phyllis Daniels Wakat, his father Marshall August Wakat Jr., and his dog Marley.

As a child, Gus moved with his family to Roanoke, Virginia where he attended North Cross High School and played a competitive sport every season, graduating in 1991. He graduated Cum Laude from Wake Forest University in 1995, where he studied Psychology and Business Administration and Management and became a brother in the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After college, Gus moved to Breckenridge, Colorado where he worked as a real estate agent and a bartender at The Dredge. He earned his MBA from the University of Denver in 2001.

In the summer of 1999, Gus met the love of his life, Kristen, at a mutual friend’s barbecue in Breckenridge, and they married in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in 2004. In 2003, Gus and Kristen moved to Denver, Colorado where he worked at American Equity Mortgage until he opened his own business, Home Equity Mortgage, in 2006. Gus and Kristen welcomed their first son, Gus Jr. in 2008 and their second son, Levon, in 2011. In 2016, the mountains called again, and the family moved their home to Vail, Colorado where they could snowboard, ski, mountain bike, raft, and hike just steps from their front door. They called Charleston their second home, where they spent many summers and holidays together at the beach in Isle of Palms.

Together, Gus and Kristen built a life of love and adventure, traveling the world and attending hundreds of concerts with many of their friends. Gus loved going to music festivals, especially the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. He was a devoted fan of the Allman Brothers and Tedeschi Trucks Band, never missing their shows at his favorite venue, Red Rocks Amphitheater, where he inscribed his name in the backstage tunnel.

Gus loved chasing new outdoor adventures with Kristen, Gus Jr., Levon, and their friends. He was known for his spontaneous weekend camping trips in his infamous and well-loved Pleasure-Way van, which he eventually upgraded to a Sprinter van. His adventurous spirit led him to new surf beaches around the world and frequently to Moab and Whistler on mountain biking trips with his boys. Most recently, the family spent their summer vacations in the Mediterranean, on boat trips in Croatia and Italy.

Known by everyone he loved as Dad Gus, he was a bright and generous light in so many lives. Coaching both of his boys in the Vail Lacrosse program over the last eight years, he was admired by many young athletes whom he coached and mentored. Forever a kid at heart, Gus loved watching Star Wars, learning history, and playing Magic the Gathering and Warhammer with his sons and their friends. He was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan and cheered for Ohio State, Kristen’s alma mater.

Gus will always be remembered for his kind, generous, and fearless spirit, his infectious smile, his deep love for music, and his devotion to his family. It is difficult for Gus’s family and friends to recall a “Best Concert” or a “Best Day Skiing” that didn’t include Gus – he brought the fun and the love, and he always showed up for the people and the communities he loved.

Family and friends of Gus and his family are invited to celebrate at “A Tribute to Gus Wakat – An Album of His Life,” beginning at 2:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 4 Eagle Ranch, 4098 Highway 131, Wolcott, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in support of behavioral health programs through the Vail Health Foundation: https://vhfound.org/GusWakat.