Jose Enrique Romero

 A Life Well-Lived

Jose Enrique Romero passed away on October 25, 2024 after a long battle with cancer. He had celebrated his 81st birthday two days prior.

He was born in Taos, NM October 23, 1943. Joe graduated from Taos High School where he played football, baseball and ran track. During his school years, he was a desk clerk at the Taos Inn and a lumberjack for his father’s lumber business. He graduated from Front Range College and Metro State University in Denver, CO with a degree in Behavioral Science and Management. He retired from the military after 21 years where he served 4 tours in Vietnam. The first 8 years of his voluntary military career were with the United States Army and the remaining time was with the United States Air Force. Among the many medals, ribbons and honors that he earned included the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. His professional life was completed at the Department of Defense where he worked as a programmer for 25 years. He was preceded in death by his daughter Patricia, by his parents Henry and Viola Romero, his in-laws Horace and Elizabeth Arther and niece Heidi Knudson. He is survived by his wife Kippy, daughter Teri Doyle (Brian), son Joseph, daughter Vikki Lato (Andy), his wonderful adopted daughter Cassie Ware and his beautiful granddaughter Breanna Pfaff (Dustin). The apple of his eye was Aubree Jane, granddaughter (Cassie Ware). He is also survived by his grandsons Jonathan, Gavin, and Myles Doyle, Jed Lato and great-grandson Emmett Pfaff. He is survived by his brothers Oliver, Richard (Yolanda), Trankie (Martha), Andy, Peter (Ta-Willow), and sisters Prescilla Romero, Ruth Gonzales (Henry), and Angela Dituri (Tony). The apple of his eye was Aubree Jane, granddaughter (Cassie Ware) and he was her “ Poppi”.  Joe’s favorite pastime was hunting which he often enjoyed with his brother Richard. He was also a Master Scuba Diver who, with his wife, dove many locations in Mexico and the Caribbean. He enjoyed snow skiing and fishing. Travel became his passion in retirement and he and Kippy made wonderful memories traveling to 5 continents.

Joe’s Celebration of Life will be held Monday November 4th at 1:00 to include Military Honors at Horan McConaty Funeral Home, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave., Aurora, CO 80014. A reception will follow at 2:00 at the HeartLight Center on the property. Kippy will keep his ashes to be spread together with hers, hopefully from a hot air balloon over Summit County, Colorado where they made so many wonderful memories.

The family requests no flowers but suggests a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation for planting a tree in Joe’s memory.