Colorado Springs Gazette Obits: What Most People Get Wrong

Losing someone is heavy. It's a weight that doesn't just sit on your chest; it reshapes your whole day, your whole week. When that happens in the Pikes Peak region, most folks head straight for the Colorado Springs Gazette obits. It’s the local record. The "town square" of grief and memory.

But honestly? Finding what you need—or trying to post a notice yourself—isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. There's a lot of noise online. You’ve got legacy sites, third-party scrapers, and the paper’s own evolving digital archives to navigate. It’s kinda a lot.

The Reality of Searching Colorado Springs Gazette Obits

If you’re looking for a recent passing, you usually start at the source. The Gazette has been around since 1872—back when General Palmer was basically just getting the city started. Today, the "Obituaries" section on their website is the primary hub.

Here’s the thing people miss: there is a difference between a "death notice" and a full "obituary."

• Death Notices: These are the bare bones. Name, age, date of passing, and funeral home. They’re often shorter and cheaper (or sometimes even free for a basic line).
• Obituaries: These are the stories. The "he loved fly fishing at Eleven Mile" and "she never met a stranger at the Broadmoor" details. These are paid advertisements placed by families or funeral directors.

If you can't find someone in the current Colorado Springs Gazette obits list, don't panic. Sometimes there’s a delay between the passing and the publication. Most families wait a few days to coordinate service details before they hit "publish."

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Digging into the Past: Archives and Genealogy

What if you're looking for a great-uncle who passed in 1985? Or a pioneer ancestor from the 1890s? This is where it gets interesting—and a bit more manual.

You’ve got two main paths. First, the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). They are basically the keepers of the keys for local history. Their "NewsFinder" index is a goldmine. It covers The Gazette from 1871 all the way to the present.

The coolest part? If the article isn't digitized yet, you can actually request a copy from their Regional History & Genealogy department. They’ve got microfilm for those years when the paper was still the Gazette-Telegraph.

Second, there’s GenealogyBank and Legacy. These are paid aggregators, but they’ve indexed millions of records. If you’re doing serious family tree work, these sites often have the scanned image of the original newspaper clipping. There’s something special about seeing the actual ink-on-paper scan from 50 years ago.

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How Much Does an Obituary Actually Cost in 2026?

Let’s talk money. It’s the part no one wants to bring up during a wake, but it matters. Placing an obituary in a major city paper like The Gazette isn't exactly cheap.

Prices fluctuate, but generally, you’re looking at a base fee plus a "per line" or "per inch" charge. Back in the day, it was all about column inches. Now, it's often tiered.

• Basic Notices: Might start around $50-$75 for a very brief mention.
• Standard Obituaries: Usually land between $150 and $400.
• Long-form Tributes: If you want a photo and 1,000 words, you could easily clear $600 or $1,000.

Most people work through their funeral home for this. The directors have "portals" to submit directly to the paper. But you can do it yourself too. The Gazette uses a self-service platform (often powered by AdPortal) where you can upload a photo and see a live preview of what it’ll look like in print.

Common Misconceptions to Avoid

One big mistake? Thinking every death results in an obituary. It doesn’t. Since they cost money, many families now choose to post only on social media or the funeral home’s website.

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Another "gotcha" is the name change. Remember, from 1947 to 1997, the paper was the Gazette-Telegraph. If you’re searching old databases, you might need to use that specific name to find what you’re looking for.

Also, be wary of "obituary pirate" sites. These are random websites that scrape data from funeral homes and The Gazette to try and sell you flowers or gain ad revenue. They often get the dates wrong. Stick to the official Gazette site, Legacy.com, or the PPLD archives for the real deal.

Actionable Steps for Your Search

1. Start at Gazette.com: Use the search bar, but keep it simple. Just the last name and the month/year. Too many details can break the search engine.
2. Check the Pikes Peak Library District: If it’s older than a few years, use the NewsFinder tool. It’s free and incredibly accurate.
3. Contact the Funeral Home: If you’re looking for service times and the obit isn't out yet, the funeral home’s own "tribute" page is almost always updated first.
4. Verify via the Social Security Death Index (SSDI): If you just need a date of death for legal or genealogical reasons, this is often more reliable than a newspaper clipping.
5. Use Microfilm as a Last Resort: If you're local, head to the Penrose Library downtown. There is something strangely meditative about scrolling through those old reels and seeing the history of Colorado Springs unfold alongside your family's story.

Finding Colorado Springs Gazette obits is about more than just dates. It's about finding that last public record of a life lived at the foot of Pikes Peak. Whether you're a historian or a grieving friend, the records are there—you just have to know which door to knock on.