Flavio Rene Gonzalez

Flavio Rene Gonzalez, age 86, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 surrounded by his family, at Porter Adventist Hospital in Littleton, Colorado. He was born in 1930 in Rio Grande City, Texas. After graduating from Texas A & M in 1952, he was commissioned into the Army as 2nd Lt. and began his tour in Korea where he served with the Third Infantry Division as an artillery officer. He was wounded in action at outpost ""Harry"", but continued to fight the enemy refusing to be evacuated until American forces were in route. His actions inspired his fellow soldiers to continue to fight the North Koreans and earned him the Silver Star for valor and a Purple Heart. He is one of only 3 soldiers recognized at Silver Star veterans park in Starr County, Texas. Flavio became a civil engineer and worked for the US Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 2001. He served as State Engineer of Colorado for 15 years. Flavio married Edna Oliverez in 1955 and had four children, son David and his wife Angie of Pocatello, Idaho, daughter Elina Swadling and her husband Jeff of Indian River, Michigan, son Andres and his wife Michelle of Eagle Pass, Texas, and daughter Rosina Aragon and her husband Dino of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. They have 13 grandchildren, Conor Rauschelbach, Natalia Gonzalez, Javier Gonzalez, Austin Swadling, Marissa Swadling, Dylan and Dakota Gonzalez, Stefan and Gabriella Gonzalez, Patrick Gonzalez, Elisandro and Ileana Aragon and Rebecca Gonzalez. He is preceded in death by his parents Flavio and Margarita (Trevino) Gonzalez, brothers Arnoldo Gonzalez and Francisco Zarate Gonzalez. He is survived by his sisters, Margarita Garza and Carolina (Victor) Huerta and by his brother Leo (Ileana) Gonzalez. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the American Lung Association or to Colorado Public Radio. A rosary will be held at Horan McConaty Mortuary, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado 80227, on Wednesday, February 1st at 6:00 pm. Funeral mass will be held at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 6673 W. Chatfield Ave., Littleton, Colorado 80128 at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 2nd, with internment to follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery.