Jason Christopher Marsden, 52, died at his home on F Street in Salida, Colorado, on Feb. 23, 2025. He is survived by husband and partner of 26 years Guy Padgett; mother Denise Marsden Padgett; sister Shawn VanHaelen; nephews Hunter VanHaelen and Fletcher VanHaelen; niece Marley VanHaelen; aunt Cheryl Marsden Beilke; uncles Terry Marsden and Mike Romsdahl; and cousins Kathie Nee, Jeremie Romsdahl, and Ted McIntosh. Jason was preceded in death by father Lynn Marsden; uncles Larry Marsden, Kurt Marsden, and Kris Romsdahl; and grandparents Clinton and Hazel Marsden and Jim & Charlotte Romsdahl. Jason was born April 26, 1972 in St James, MN. After his father passed away, he and his mother and sister moved to Sheridan, WY. Jason graduated with honors from Sheridan High School, and attended Harvard University, receiving a BA in English and American Literature, focused on post-WWII poetry.
Jason moved to Casper, WY, where he became an award-winning reporter at the Casper Star Tribune. He wrote a series of articles revealing the severity of pollution caused by a local refinery that led to the rehabilitation and reuse of the site. During this time, he met his husband, Guy Padgett in 1998, with whom he moved to Washington, DC to serve as the Casper Star Tribune’s Washington correspondent. Returning to Casper, Jason was the founding executive director of Wyoming Conservation Voters. Jason advocated for hunters, anglers and for public access to Wyoming’s great outdoors. He played a pivotal role in lobbying for the creation of the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund. In 2009, Jason and his husband relocated to Denver, CO, where Jason served as the executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. He worked tirelessly to fight for the LGBT community, often facing down hatred and vitriol to protect his community. In this role, he travelled around the world to promote equality and help teach others how to advocate for themselves. While in Denver, marriage equality was achieved in the USA, and Jason and Guy married, legalizing what had for years already been a reality. Jason and Guy moved to Salida CO in 2023, when Jason became executive director at the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association. He cherished his work with GARNA, educating the public about the Arkansas River Valley, helping to restore wildlife habitat, and advocating for the responsible use of the numerous outdoor recreation opportunities in Chaffee County. He loved the community here, and immediately felt that this was his home. Jason loved being outdoors, whether an afternoon walk in the Arkansas Hills, a hike up to a waterfall or mountain lake, or a weekend out camping. He enjoyed visiting new places, exploring local food, culture, and museums, and had a particular fondness for Norway and the Netherlands. He loved live music, in recent years enjoying shows by My Morning Jacket, Billy Strings, and Spoon. He enjoyed cooking, and cherished nights in with his cat and his husband. Those who had the pleasure of knowing Jason found a soul dedicated to justice, a keen intellect and a rapier wit, a deep well of kindness and understanding, and a fierce will to protect the less fortunate. There will be a service for Jason Marsden on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Salida United Methodist Church, 228 E 4th St, Salida, CO 81201, followed by a celebration of his life at 4:00 at the SteamPlant Event Center, 220 W Sackett Ave, Salida, CO 81201. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to GARNA in his name at GARNA.org.
