Jack Eugene ""Papa"" Brughelli

Jack was born in Hanford, California, on January 23, 1931, to Elmer Brughelli and Alice Muniz Brughelli. He was raised in Riverdale, California, with his younger sister, LaVerne. Jack obtained a pilot's license and flew solo in a single-engine airplane at the age of 16. He was valedictorian of his class at Riverdale High School in 1948 and received his bachelor's degree in Business Education from Fresno State before enlisting with the US Air Force. Jack first came to Colorado in September, 1953 when he was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. He met Patricia Walsh, a Registered Nurse, and they were married June 1, 1954. He served overseas in Tripoli, Libya for 2 years, where his oldest daughter, Karyn, was born. Having completed his 4 years of service in the Air Force, Jack and Pat moved to Porterville, California, where Jack took a job teaching high school business classes. From there, they relocated to Denver, where his family continued to grow with the births of Susan, Sharon, and Kevin. That's right, four children in as many years! Jack spent 34 years working as an accountant at Rocky Mountain Bank Note Company. Upon his retirement in 1993 he became a full-time husband, world traveler, and grandfather. His calendar filled up with cruises to many destinations around the world with Pat and dear friends, Jack and Diane, birthday parties, baptisms, soccer, football, baseball, and basketball games, first communions, graduations, engagement parties, and weddings. Jack's children each chose amazing spouses, bringing Dana, Steve, Kevin and Sheila into the family, and then brought grandchildren into the fold: David, Ryan, Dylan, Keaton, Karissa, Kylie, Rachael, Michael, Daniel, David, Isaac, Robert, Justin, Jacob, David, and Sarah. With the grandchildrens' marriages, the family welcomed new members Rob, Kelley, Krista, and Chad. A third generation began last year with the birth of Jack's first great-grandchild, Kaden. At a recent family gathering in honor of his and Pat's 60th wedding anniversary, Jack looked around the room, full of the family he loved, and said that he came to Colorado back in 1953 all by himself and just look at what happened! Jack was diagnosed with prostate cancer 18 years ago. He underwent several different treatments during those years, stating that his life was in God's hands and that he would do whatever the doctors recommended. He often said that he was never sick a day in his life because of it, and that was true until the last few days of his life. In accordance with his wishes, he was loved and cared for at home for as long as was possible. It was no coincidence that Jack spent the last 2 days of his life at the Denver Hospice facility at Lowry, bringing his life full circle. Our lives will never be quite the same without our beloved Papa, but he left the world knowing the family he started is still growing…there are upcoming weddings and great-grandchildren…the legacy Papa began, continues. A Recitation of the Rosary will be on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado. Funeral Mass On Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:00AM at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado. Interment at Ft. Logan National Cemetery Friday, October 23, 2015 at 1:15 PM, Area C. Please share your memories of Jack 'Papa' and condolences for his family by signing the guestbook below.