April 2nd, 1928 – April 9th, 2020
Joe Dekleva, the lifetime resident of Trinidad and the surrounding area, passed away on April 9th at the Trinidad Inn Nursing Home after a short illness.
He was married to the love of his life, Elizabeth (Guadagnoli) for 58 years. April 7th, 2020 would have been their 69th wedding anniversary.
Joe was born in Bon Carbo, CO to John and Mary (Malovich). The fruit trees, planted by his father, and the home where he was born, still stands today. He also lived in Firestone, CO, and Delaqua, CO during his youth years.
He remembered having to take senior-level classes during his junior year so that those of age could fight in WWII. He was a radioman in the US Navy and served on the USS Austoria, based in Long Beach, CA and deployed to the Pacific Theater.
After returning to Trinidad, he worked at Gerardi’s Grocery store on the corner of Main and Maple streets and delivered Meadow Gold products and frozen foods, including the First Bird’s Eye brand in Trinidad and Northern New Mexico.
He then attended electrical school in Denver, CO while working at Samsonite Luggage. Upon returning to Trinidad, Elizabeth and he were married on April 7th, 1951. They moved into their home on White Ave, one block from their parents, Deklevas on Frost and Guadagnolis on Godding, allowing them to visit and help often.
He worked for San Isabel Electric as a meter reader. He transitioned from San Isabel Electric to take an electrician job at the Allen Mine in Weston, CO. Joe spent the next 33 years working for CF&I and Kinder Morgan, re-winding motors, running cables, and repairing electrical components. While working at the mine he developed a radio system used for long distances in the mine and served on the rescue team, where he saw many of his friends hurt or die while working there.
He was a member of United Mine Workers of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a seventy-one-year member of Elks Lodge 181.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, parents John and Mary Dekleva, mother and father-in-law Candido and Anna (Colontonio) Guadagnoli, brother John Dekleva, sister Frances (Gordon), and numerous brothers and sisters in law.
Joe is survived by his son, Joe (LouAnn Iuppa) of Monument, CO, daughter, Beth Dochter (Ken), four grandchildren, Casey Rivera (JJ), Cara McLean (Ed), Gregor Dekleva (Julia), and Kelli Van Matre (Jeremy), seven great-grandchildren, sister Josephine Fedrizzi (Anthony), sisters-in-law Joann Dekleva (John), Beverly Guadagnoli (Nick), first cousins Maryann Ghella (George), Ed
