Obituary for Juan Andres Lucero
Juan Andres Lucero, known to many as John, Gramps, or Grampo, passed away on July 6, 2024.
He was born on November 30, 1930, in Llano Del Coyote (Rainsville), New Mexico, to parents
Jose Martin Lucero and Celestina Lucero. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Ruth
(Montoya) Lucero, his son John Lucero, his sisters Vickie and Mary, and brothers Jesse and
Marty. To cherish his memory, he leaves behind four generations of immediate family. His
daughter Teresa Lucero and his four grandchildren, Andre Lucero (Dinia Vazquez), Donte Lucero
(Chris McClain), James Rodriguez (Jennifer Rodriguez), and Blake “Stephanie” Lucero (Drew
“Alex” Carter). His greatest joys were his seven great-grandchildren; Elijah, Isaiah, Breyona,
Isabelle, Logan, Lincoln, and Azaria, and his one great-great-granddaughter, Alaina. He is also
survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Triana, and numerous cousins, godchildren, nieces and
nephews, and other relatives and friends.
John lived an exceptionally full, happy, and healthy life. His life was not only measured in its
length but also in its breadth and depth. He developed his work ethic and strength of character
at an early age, harvesting crops, working on farms and ranches, and performing odd jobs as a
boy. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army for 33 months, from 1949 through 1951,
attaining the rank of Sgt (T) prior to his honorable discharge. He then started working at the
CF&I steel mill and started working on a family, marrying Ruth in March 1952. He dedicated 30
years to CF&I, culminating in retirement, and he dedicated his entire life to raising and loving
his family, his children, and their descendants. During these later golden years, he stayed busy
by working as a bus driver for CDS in Olney Springs, owning and working his own little ranch
and building his home near Manzanola. He would later move to La Junta where he settled in
peacefully, saying how he had “more time than money.” He would use that time and money
and his mechanical aptitude to buy used cars, fix them up and sell them, often for a tidy profit.
He enjoyed his scratch tickets, making daily trips to the gas station or grocery store to buy one.
He loved telling stories and jokes and had quite the sense of humor. He took great pride and
joy in his family, and he loved watching his great-grandchildren play sports. He was a dedicated
Lady Tigers softball and basketball fan, attending most of their home games, always enjoying a
front row VIP seat. He was a devout Catholic and member of the parish, consistently attending
mass every Sunday.
He always had sodas for you to drink, snacks for you to eat, tools for you to borrow, a helping
hand to fix your car, and stories and advice to share for your enjoyment and education. He
welcomed everyone, making you feel loved and special. He fully lived every day of his 93 years,
and each on we shared with him was truly a blessing. He was deeply loved, and he will be
greatly missed by all those who knew him and loved him.
To plant a tree in memory of Juan Andres Lucero, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
Tuesday
16
Jul
2:00 PM
Our Lady of Guadalupe St. Patrick's Parish
3rd St
La Junta, CO 81050
Monday July 15, 2024, A Visitation will be held at 6:00 P.M. followed by a 7:00 P.M. Rosary. Tuesday viewing will be held at 12:45 P.M. followed by a 1:30 P.M. Rosary A reception will be held immediately following the Mass.
Cemetery Details
Location
Fairview Cemetery
402 Potter Drive
La Junta, CO 81050
Loading...