Albert Gurule

Albert Gurule was born in Denver, Colorado on New Year's Eve in 1926-or thereabouts. Al was born into modest means, but his life was rich with characters. His father, Martin, was also his good friend. He adored his mother, Adalina, who was sadly lost too early to cancer. He and his sister, Henrietta, had a loving and caring relationship, which permeated through to each of their respective children and beyond.
Al joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor, but a broken ear drum kept him home. So, when Al graduated from Denver South High School, he followed his first great love-football-across the street and played quarterback for the University of Denver's "meat squad" for a year before turning his attention to more entrepreneurial pursuits, as well as to fast cars and pretty women. Then he met Margaret (Marge) Sena. "She could be okay," he told friends trying to play it cool; he married her six months later. Almost immediately, Marge and Al started their family, having four children-David, Larry, Tim, and Kate-over their first 6 years.

Al started a successful construction business and Marge went on to excel at whatever she did-from owning a restaurant to a full career in government personnel. Al's businesses were always a family business and if it didn't work out for the family (like the bar, Colfax Tavern), he and Marge kept moving forward as a family. His sons became his favorite laborers to rouse entirely too early, and every single person who worked for Al, of every nationality or race, became a member of Al's family. After Al retired, Al and Marge moved to Japan for Marge's career. While Marge worked, Al became their good will ambassador through friendships he established while playing golf on the base's course. Al didn't need a translator to become fast friends with local restaurant moguls and celebrities; his smile and good-natured sense of mischief spoke every language.

Al's love of sports inspired him to coach when he was not playing a sport. Having 3 sons, and wanting to coach his own kids, Al and a few other dads started Green Mountain Midget Football and the association that supported it. Al loved coaching his sons and other neighborhood kids, and they all loved playing for him. Al was a successful coach both in wins and values he instilled. To hear Al tell it, the man never lost a game!

Al didn't have a single sweet tooth-he had 32 of them. So, it was no lucky coincidence that special moments Al spent with his daughter Kate around cakes, pastries and puddings resulted in her becoming a very accomplished baker. He was always begrudgingly happy to share the treats she would make for the house with whomever would eat them with him at any time.
Grandchildren (4 boys, 3 girls) brought Al and Marge back to the States in the early 90s. And though Al was a good man and a great father, he was undoubtedly, the perfect Grampo (Pompo or Boboo). Al never missed a single game or concert his grandkids in Colorado participated in; and traveled out of state to spend time with his other grandkids. He shared with each of them his love for CU football, his sugar peas from the garden he found peace in, and every kind of dessert you can imagine (made by Kate or otherwise)-always covered in canned cream.
If one of his grandkids became passionate about something, Al became passionate about it. He wanted to know what every single one of them was up to right until the very last breath he took, and you could always find the phone on his person for when they, or his kids, called. In fact, for the last decade, Al and Larry were probably on the phone with each other more than they were not. So, when Al got sick toward the very end, it was the privilege of each of his children to help Marge take care of him-just like he did for all of them for many years.

Al approached life with a sense of wonder, and it was contagious. If you knew Al, you were his friend and you knew his love. Your life is better for that.

A funeral mass will be held Thursday, July 8, 2021, 10:30am, St. Jude Catholic Church, 9405, W. Florida Avenue, Lakewood. Committal will follow mass at Fort Logan National Cemetery.