Ilmars Zutis

Devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, Ilmars Zutis, 75, of Denver, Colorado, passed away June 27, 2018, after a long battle with cancer. He was born September 1, 1942, in Liepaja, Latvia, to Paulina and Peteris Zutis.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Genoveva Zutis, whom he met while working at a green-house. The two were inseparable thereafter and married in 1965. He is also survived by his children, Leah Raymond, of Littleton, Colorado; and Tanya Zutis, of Centennial, Colorado. He loved his grandchildren Nicole and Rachael Raymond more than anything. He also will be fondly remembered by his brother, Andris Zutis (Susan) of Long Island, New York; and his step-mother, Arija Zutis of Long Island, New York. He will be greatly missed by many family and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Paulina Trinitis-Zutis; father, Peteris Zutis, and Grandmother Anna Zutis.

Ilmars worked as a machinist for Stearns and Rogers for many years and he was very proud of his work. He built Robotic Gripper Fingers which moved Uranium on 3 Mile Island and built dummy missiles for use on military submarine ships. He also made metal plates for the Denver Mint Company to make Quarters and built tools that were used to extract oil from rocks. After Stearns and Rogers, Ilmars worked at Safeway Milk Plant until he retired in 2011. At Safeway milk plant, he processed milk and also cooked the cheese curd to make cottage cheese for Safeway grocery stores. He took great pride in his job and received many recognition awards and also an award for not missing a single day of work in 10+ years. That perfect zero absenteeism all ended when his first grand-daughter Nicole was born in 1999 as he waited at the hospital for 31 hours until she arrived. The next time he missed work was when his second granddaughter, Rachael was born in 2002. His grandchildren were the world to him and he spent a lot of time with them. He enjoyed many trips to Glenwood Hot Springs every summer, hiking, & cooked for all their birthday parties since they were born. He also attended all their sporting events and loved talking politics once they got older. In 2015, he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, children and grandchildren in Hawaii. It's a trip the family will never forget. He took great pride in his beautiful Washington Park home and enjoyed his large vegetable and flower garden. He was an avid Broncos and Rockies fan and almost never missed watching a game. Most of all, he spent a lot of time with his wife, children, grandchildren and grand-dog Bella whom he loved very much. We are comforted knowing he is at peace tending to God's Garden in heaven and no longer in pain.

Funeral Mass for Ilmars will be at 10 AM on Monday, July 9, 2018 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2375 East Arizona Avenue, Denver 80210.

Detailed information for Ilmars will follow shortly.

Please share your memories of Ilmars and condolences with his family in the Guestbook.