Joe Deltondo, 95
died Monday, March 5, 2012, at his home with his family by his side.
Joe was a loving, devoted husband, father and grandfather, and he will be greatly missed.
He was born February 23, 1917, in Montrose, Colo., to Casimiro (Charlie) and Carmela (D’Aloisio) Deltondo. He was married to Annie Massarotti on April 7, 1940, in Montrose, Colo. The couple would have celebrated their 72nd anniversary on April 7, 2012. The couple was blessed with one child, Bill Gene Deltondo on March 13, 1941.
Joe worked on the Rio Grande Railroad on Dallas Divide for a year. He moved to Ordway, Colo., in 1941 and raised turkeys for five years. He then moved back to Montrose, and was a farmer and rancher for 54 years. He was presented with several awards throughout the years for being the top barley grower for Coors and the top corn grower, and he earned the 2007 Montrose Chamber of Commerce Farm Award.
Joe had a passion for life. He loved to raise a huge garden every summer and plant a lot of flowers. He had a green thumb like no one else. His plants and flowers were his pride and joy. He enjoyed playing the accordion, polka dancing, singing, playing cards, bowling, fishing and getting together with family and friends.
A few of his grandchildren’s favorite memories with their grandfather are: Darren (Joe’s grandson) fishing, farming and ranching and playing cards with his grandpa; Donna (Joe’s granddaughter) going to Mary’s Café to get ice cream and 7UP with a cherry and talking about flowers, dancing, making sausage and going out in the ministry with grandpa; Lori (Joe’s granddaughter) listening to Grandpa sing his Italian songs; April (Joe’s granddaughter) dancing with Grandpa at wedding and anniversary parties; Alicia (Joe’s great-granddaughter) dancing with grandpa at weddings and anniversary parties, and seeing him being excited about his garden; and Mason (Joe’s great-grandson) grandpa chasing him and playing with him.
Joe cherished the privilege of sharing with others his hope for the future as promised by God in his word the Bible of living forever on a Paradise Earth, where death will be no more, neither will mourning or outcry nor pain be anymore (Rev. 21:3,4).
Survivors grateful to have shared Joe’s life include his wife, Annie Deltondo; his son, Bill (Georgia) Deltondo; four grandchildren, Donna (Steve) Hay of Paradise Valley, Ariz., Darren (Kendra) Deltondo of Fruita, Colo., Lori (Danniel) Mills of Montrose, Colo., April (Tobias) Magdaleno of Clifton, Colo; and two great-grandchildren, Alicia (Brad) Rhodes of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mason Mills of Montrose, Colo.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Casimiro (Charlie) and Carmela Deltondo; his three brothers, Louis Deltondo, Dominick Deltondo and Pete Deltonto; three sisters, Annie English, Lucy DeVincentis and Mary English; and a granddaughter, Shelley Rene Deltondo.
A memorial service in remembrance of Joe’s life will be officiated by minister Jason Platzer on Saturday, March 17 at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 16672 Woodgate Road, Montrose, CO. Burial will be at the Cedar Creek Cemetery.
Burial arrangements are being handled under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home of Montrose.
