Cletus Joseph Oxenreiter, Jr.

Cletus (Cleats) Joseph Oxenreiter, Jr. of Denver, Colorado, passed away on July 10, 2018. He was born on November 27, 1927 to Cletus Joseph Oxenreiter, Sr. and Cecilia (Seiber) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. George Catholic School, was President of his Class, played basketball, football, and was Captain and MVP of the football team. He served in the army in 1946 and was deployed to Goritiza Italy, as a linesman restoring the communities' transportation and communications services that were destroyed in the war. Additionally, he played basketball on the U.S. Army special services 349 Infantry Division team that won the 1946 championship in Berlin. He and his teammates were rewarded with a trip throughout Europe on their way home to Goritiza, and he said it was a lifetime dream.

Cleats graduated from the School of Business at Robert Morris University, and then was hired by General Cigar Company, where he worked for more than 40 years in various sales leadership and management roles. He was known for building deep relationships with all he met.

Cleats was preceded in death by his first wife of 44 years Rose Mary (Direnzo) Oxenreiter, and brothers James and Richard Oxenreiter. He remarried and is survived by his wife of 19 years Nancy Ann (Cress) Nealon, his sisters Joanne May and Mary Ann Murray, his daughters Louise (Bill) Atkinson, and Patricia Tantillo, 5 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. He was a step father to Nancy's 7 children Julie (John) Nordlander, Joe Nealon,, Jerry Nealon, Jim (Julie) Nealon, Jack (Julie) Nealon, Jeff (Teresa) Nealon and Jon (Christy) Nealon, 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Cleats was known by all as ""Pappy"". He was a beloved father, husband, brother, grandpa, and friend. He loved his family deeply, and they were his top priority He regularly thanked God for all the blessings bestowed upon him and his family. Cleats was an avid Denver Broncos fan and season ticket holder since 1962, but his heart was also with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He enjoyed playing golf primarily at Pinehurst Country Club, his home course. He was witty and wise, and will be missed by all.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00–7:00 PM, followed by a Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Horan and McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado.

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Blvd, Denver, Colorado.

A private burial and military honors will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetary on a later date.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/co.

Please share memories of Cleats and condolence messages with his family below.

 

Visitation: July 19, 2018 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Recitation of the Rosary : July 19, 2018 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Funeral Mass: July 20, 2018 10:00 am

Notre Dame Catholic Church
2190 S. Sheridan Blvd.
Denver, CO 80219