Cruz Perez

Cruz Perez, 85, of Aurora, Colorado, passed away November 27, 2018. He was born September 14, 1933 in La Junta, Colorado to Carmen and Natividad Zavala Perez.

Cruz joined the United States Air Force in 1953. He married his sweetheart, Emma Duran on April 10, 1954. He was proud to tell the story of how he earned money to buy Emma's wedding ring by cutting soldiers hair for fifty cents a pop. Cruz and Emma settled in Aurora, Colorado where they raised four sons, Daniel, Michael, David and Nathan.

During his military career, Cruz worked as a Nuclear Weapons Technician and Instructor. He worked on the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, the Titan and the Minuteman II and III. He loved wearing his special military cap that read "Dysfunctional Veteran leave me alone", and proudly pinned to each side were ICBM missile pins. Cruz retired from the Air Force in 1973, as a Technical Sergeant.

Following his military retirement, Cruz went on to work as an instructor for the Department of Defense until his Civil Service retirement in 1986. During this time, he was also an Electronics Instructor at night for the Emily Griffith Opportunity school.

After his retirement and in their twilight years, Cruz and Emma were very active in the Disabled American Veterans, Clyde Seiler Chapter 21. They loved traveling to other states for the different DAV conventions. Each year, Cruz and his family got together to make DAV medallion bolos that he would take to all the conventions for the veterans. Cruz was a member of the St. Pius X Parish, and an active Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Cruz was an active Ham Radio operator and Instructor. He was an avid racquetball player, he enjoyed fishing, cars and traveling with his wife. Getting together with his family was always very important to him and he loved to play his guitar with his family around to sing. Cruz's greatest love was for his wife, his sons, and their families.

Cruz is loved and will be missed by his beloved wife, Emma Dorsey Duran Perez; four sons, Daniel, Michael (Annie), David (Sylvia) and Nathan (Yvonne); grandchildren, Angelina, Gina, Anthony, Kiersten, Nicole, Amber, Stephanie, Emmaly, Michael, Kristin, Kenton, Nicholas, Dustin and Brian; sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

A Rosary will be held at 9:00 AM, on Thursday, December 6, 2018, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM, both at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 13670 E. 13^th Place, Aurora, CO 80011

Burial with full Air Force Honors will be at 3:00 PM on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO. Please gather in staging area ‘A' by 2:50 PM.

Rosary: December 6, 2018 9:00 am - 9:30 am

St. Pius X Catholic Church
13670 E 13th Place
Aurora, CO 80011

Funeral Mass: December 6, 2018 10:00 am - 11:00 am

St. Pius X Catholic Church
13670 E 13th Place
Aurora, CO 80011

Graveside Service: December 6, 2018 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Ft. Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80235

Room: Gather in Staging Area 'A' by 2:50pm