Obituaries

Obituaries in La Junta Colorado and

Robert G. Schandelmeier

Robert G. Schandelmeier

Dec 18, 2015

Robert "Bob" G. Schandelmeier, 91, passed away on December 18, 2015 at his Swink home. He was born on November 21, 1924 in Rockford, Illinois to George & Laura (Hecht) Schandelmeier.   Bob worked as a Journeyman Electrician for 34 years. He served in the United States Army during World War II.  He will be greatly missed by his family and...

Mary Lou Trujillo

Mary Lou Trujillo

Dec 16, 2015

Mary Lou Trujillo, 79, passed away on December 16, 2015 at the Minnequa Medicenter in Pueblo. She was born on April 8, 1936 in La Junta, Colorado to Maxamino & Domecinda (Trujillo) Montano. She married Agapito Trujillo on April 11, 1955 in Las Vegas, New Mexico; he preceded her in death on July 26, 2004.   Mary Lou enjoyed teaching for...

Betty Buckhaults

Betty Buckhaults

Dec 15, 2015

Betty Jo Ann Buckhaults, 86, of La Junta, passed away on December 15, 2015 at the Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center in Pueblo. Betty was born on May 3, 1929 in Salina, Kansas to Ernest & Anna (Yonally) Sapp.    In 1947, Betty met and married Thomas L. Hall of Cheraw on May 10, 1947 in Garden City, Kansas. Tom...

Joseph D. Lay

Joseph D. Lay

Dec 13, 2015

Joseph D. Lay, 68, of La Junta, passed away on December 13, 2015 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta, Colorado. He was born on January 1, 1947 to Wallace & Beth (Atkinson) Lay in Garden City, Kansas.  He married Katherine M. Vidrine on September 26, 1969.   He graduated from La Junta High School in 1965. After...

Rudy Salas

Rudy Salas

Dec 10, 2015

Rudy Salas, 67, passed away Thursday, December 10, 2015 at his La Junta home surrounded by his family. He was born on August 7, 1948 to Albert and Alice (Roybal) Salas. He married Diana Apodaca on April 6, 1968.   He graduated from Kim High School in 1966. Rudy owned and operated several businesses including Ark Valley Carpet Pro. He also...

James R. Mcdonald

James R. Mcdonald

Dec 8, 2015

James Richard McDonald, 54, of Cheraw, passed away on December 8, 2015 at the Bent County Nursing Home. He was born on April 30 1961 in La Junta to William Robert & Huldah Irene (Wright) McDonald.    James was very proud of his military service of 13 years in the United States Army from 1980 - 1993. He will be dearly...

Elsie Marie Batdorf

Elsie Marie Batdorf

Dec 6, 2015

Elsie Marie Batdorf, 92, passed away on December 6, 2015 at her La Junta home. She was born on February 4, 1923 in Hartman, Colorado to Ross & Effie (Sparks) Cramblet. She married Duane K. Batdorf on October 19, 1940; he preceded her in death on February 17, 1993.   Elsie was born during a time when the only way to...

Bennie A. Martinez

Bennie A. Martinez

Dec 3, 2015

Bennie A. Martinez, 87, passed away on December 3, 2015 at his La Junta home. He was born on June 21, 1928 in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Antonio & Maria A. (Archuleta) Martinez. Bennie retired from the Mechanical Department with the City of La Junta. He enjoyed taking trips with his friend, Luther Britton on their motorcycles to New...

Winnie G. Aeverman

Winnie G. Aeverman

Dec 2, 2015

Winnie G. Aeverman, 81, of La Junta passed away on December 2, 2015 at the Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo. She was born on September 9, 1934 in Olustee, Oklahoma to William & Mary (Bogue) Burge.     She is survived by her husband, Jack of the La Junta home; children, Terrelee Spindle of Lafayette, CO; Suzanne Averman of Arvada, CO; Patty...

Bertha Lee Block

Bertha Lee Block

Dec 1, 2015

Bertha Lee Block, 89, of La Junta, passed away on December 1, 2015 at her sister’s home in Pueblo. Bertha was born in Wray, Colorado on September 14, 1926 to Ernest & Mryle (Wilson) Smith. She married Harold A. Block on May 28, 1960; he preceded her in death on July 25, 2010.    She graduated from Wray High School in...

Carol Ellen Clifton

Carol Ellen Clifton

Nov 28, 2015

Carol Ellen Heins Clifton, 80, passed away on November 28, 2015 at her La Junta home. She was born in Buell, Missouri on December 2, 1934 to Edward & Stella (McQuiod) Heins.  She married Jack Dempsey Clifton on September 18, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri; he preceded her in death on July 25, 2007.   Carol graduated from Soldan High School...

Robert Bruce Baumgartner,  Md

Robert Bruce Baumgartner, Md

Nov 22, 2015

Robert Bruce Baumgartner, MD, 77, of La Junta passed away on November 22, 2015 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. He was born on January 6, 1938 in Denver to Andrew B. & Catherine (Parle) Baumgartner. He married Sherry Ann Wilson.   In 1956, Robert graduated from Regis High School in Denver and continued on to Regis...

Helmut Walfred Kienitz

Helmut Walfred Kienitz

Nov 18, 2015

Helmut Walfred Kienitz, 78, passed away on November 18, 2015 at his La Junta home. He was born on August 19, 1937 in Oseln, Latvia to Fred & Hulda (Radke) Kienitz.   His family arrived in Ordway in 1953 and owned a farm by 1956. He graduated from Ordway High School with the class of 1957 and received his BA in...

Sandra Vigil Ramirez

Sandra Vigil Ramirez

Nov 10, 2015

Sandra Vigil Ramirez, 52, of La Junta went to be with the Lord on November 10, 2015 at the University Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. Sandra was called to a reunion with family and friends, a reunion which she will not return. She was born on July 17, 1963 in La Junta to Raymond & Elsie (Ortiz) Vigil.    Sandra attended La...

Harvey E. Adkins

Harvey E. Adkins

Nov 10, 2015

Harvey “Sonny” Adkins, 74, of La Junta passed away on November 10, 2015 at the Sangre De Cristo Hospice House in Pueblo. He was born on February 28, 1941 in La Junta, Colorado to William H. & Laura (Downey) Adkins. He married Diane Hindman on August 23, 1976; she preceded him in death on January 21, 2015.   Harvey served his...

Robert Kehn

Robert Kehn

Nov 9, 2015

Robert Kehn, 78, of Rocky Ford went to be with the Lord on November 9, 2015 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. He was born on February 12, 1937 in Loveland, Colorado to Clarence & Justine (Statman) Kehn. He married Judy Barnett on June 29, 1958.   He attended and graduated from Rocky Ford high school in...

Joe  Sr. Ayala

Joe Sr. Ayala

Nov 8, 2015

Joe Ayala, Sr. 91, passed away peacefully at his La Junta home surrounded by his beloved family on November 8, 2015. He was born on March 4, 1924 in Las Animas, Colorado to Nicolas & Guadalupe (Ontiveros) Allala. He married Virginia R. Hernandez on October 24, 1943; she preceded him in death on February 4, 1997.    He was employed as...

Margaret L. Howard

Margaret L. Howard

Nov 5, 2015

Margaret Louise Howard, 91, passed away on November 5, 2015 at the Fowler Health Care Center. She was born on November 26, 1923 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Abel & Elizabeth (Herter) Dickert.   She quit school to take care of her mother. During WWII she worked in a factory making radio parts. She got her GED when she was in her...

Delbert Kay Spencer

Delbert Kay Spencer

Nov 4, 2015

Delbert Kay “DK” Spencer, 89, passed away on November 4, 2015 at the Pioneer Healthcare Center in Rocky Ford. He was born on March 17, 1926 in Ft. Collins, Colorado to John B. & Vere (Lutz) Spencer. He married Dorothy “Dot” Burns on February 29, 1948 in Raton, New Mexico. DK worked on the Santa Fe Railroad for many years....

Bobby W. Craig,  Sr.

Bobby W. Craig, Sr.

Nov 2, 2015

Bobby Woods Craig, Sr. was a wonderful, extraordinary man born on December 17, 1938 in Rocky Ford, Colorado to Merido and Orene Craig. His family lived on "The Dry" land outside of Manzanola until Bob started school. They moved to La Junta, but continued to spend a lot of time with their family and friends in Manzanola. After high school,...