Guadalupe Velasquez

1950 - 2018

Guadalupe Velasquez, 68, formerly of Fort Lupton, passed away Dec, 1 at his home in Brighton.
He was born Feb. 17, 1950, in Alamo, Texas, to Camilio Velasquez and Patricia Escobedo. He grew up there and went to St Joseph Catholic school and then Donna Public Schools.
Guadalupe served as a sergeant in the Army and fought in the Vietnam War. He is a decorated war veteran, having received many awards and medals, including the Silver Star for gallantry in action against an armed hostile force.
He married Elodia Ybarra July 6, 1971, at the age of 21, to Elodia Ybarra, in Brandenburg, Kentucky. They were married 47 years. He worked in the oilfield/pipeline industry and then went on to work in resturant management for 20 years until he retired in 2006.
He loved wood working and building things in his backyard. He was always Mr. Fix-it and would always be willing to help his children out when something was broken.
He loved reading, listening to music, working on his coin collection, and he would never pass up an opportunity to go gambling up in Black Hawk. Guadalupe was a very loving, caring person who would light up the room with his sense of humor and jokes. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Adeline Velasquez (Manuel Valenzuela), of Morrison; daughter, Delia (Shane) Smith, of Fort Lupton; son, Desi (Jamie) Velasquez, of Brighton; four grandchildren, Samantha and Alex Smith, Dominic and Anya Velasquez; sister, Julia Castillo of McAllen, Texas; sisters, Dominga Poulaillon, of Wichita, Kansas, and Olga Lopez, of Donna, Texas; an uncle, Domingo Acosta, of Keenesburg; many nephews, nieces and extended family.
His parents; two brothers two brothers; and one granddaughter, Cassandra Smith, preceded him in death.
The viewing and a small service were Dec. 10 at Olinger Highland Mortuary and Cemetery in Thornton.