Mike V. Torrez

Funeral Mass: Saturday, June 22, 2013, 10:00 a.m.
                        Place: Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish

                      Rosary: Friday, June 21, 2013, 6:00 p.m.
                         Place: Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY 

Miguel “Mike” Villa Torrez, 89, of La Junta, passed away June 15, 2013 at the Fowler Health Care Center. He was born September 29, 1923, in Dodge City, Kansas to Jose Torrez and Sara Jaso Torrez. Mike was a World War II Veteran, serving from 1943 to 1945.

Mike Torrez was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rosa, his son Edwardo Torrez, brother, Pascual Torrez, Epemenio Torrez, Francisco Torrez; sister, Maria de Jesus. He is survived by children, Catalina (James) Harris of Plano, Texas; Alvino Torrez of Dodge City, Kansas; Valentine Torrez of Dodge City, Kansas; Jleverto (Melinda) Torrez of Wichita, Kansas; Pedro G. Torrez of Pueblo, Colorado; Blas (Tammy) Torrez of Hugo, Colorado; Jose (Darlene) Torrez of Santa Maria, California; Ledia (Mike) Ayala of Leoti, Kansas; grandchildren, Kerri Beth (Brandon) Brittain of Broomfield, Colorado; Eli Torrez of Chicago, Illinois; Matthew (Carol) Torrez of Pueblo, Colorado; Michael Torrez of La Junta, Colorado; Tara Torrez of Pueblo, Colorado; Chaka Harris of Plano, Texas; Whitney Harris of Honolulu, Hawaii; Quiency Harris of Dallas, Texas; and Sarah Torrez of Hugo, Colorado. Great-grandchildren, Kurtis Romero of Tampa, Florida; Drew Romero of La Junta, Colorado; Matthew Joseph Torrez, of Las Animas, Colorado; Sidney Romero of La Junta, Colorado; Dominique Gregory and DaeLynn Gregory of La Junta, Colorado 
 
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For Mike has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary
And quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
though a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell their whole life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
A guy who breaks his promises'
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who,
In times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

A politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps, a pension small.

It’s so easy to forget them,
For it was so long ago,
That the old Mike's of our country
Went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician
With his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and Country
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In a paper that would say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Friday, June 21, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. both services will be at Our lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish with Father Alphonsus Ihuoma officiating. Interment with Military Honors by American Legion Post 8 will follow at Fairview Cemetery.