Robert Eliseo Martinez

Robert Eliseo ""Grandpa"" Martinez, passed away September 4, 2014 at about 10:30 PM. He was 72. A viewing at 10:30 AM and service at 11:30 AM for family and friends will be held at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 11150 E Dartmouth Ave, Aurora, CO 80014 on Thursday, September 11, 2014, followed by a military honored burial service at Ft. Logan Cemetery in Denver, CO. Robert was born May 02, 1942 in Monte Vista, Colorado, the son of Maria Ramona Lucero and Juan Francisco Martinez. Robert was the fourth of seven siblings and lived an adventurous and spirited life. In his youth, he would race his mother's car with his brother Luis, catch rattlesnakes and worked as a sheep herder. As a young man, he learned to work on car engines and woodworking with his brothers. Dad had a passion for working with his hands and loved carpentry. Robert enlisted in the United States Army in 1964, served and toured during the Vietnam War and returned home a decorated veteran and was discharged with full honors. He returned to the United States in 1966 where he married Rosa Romero in 1967 and became the father of three sons, Robert Frank, Richard Rodney and David Michael. Robert remained in public service for 28 years, having worked at Fitzsimmons Medical Hospital, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Lowry Air Force Base and the Denver Mint, where he worked as a Utility Systems Operator until his retirement in 2003. Robert had a passionate love of the outdoors where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his brother Luis and good friend Ralph Langhorne. Robert passed along these favorite pastimes and enthusiasm to his sons and grandchildren. Robert was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2008, however the diagnosis was changed to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in 2013. This is a very rare neurological disease that has no known cause or treatment. Robert is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rosa Martinez formerly of Romeo, CO; Robert and Angela Martinez (son and daughter-in-law) and their children Robert, Jr. (grandson), Nicholas (grandson), Alexander (grandson), Brandon (grandson), and Christina (granddaughter); Richard Martinez (son) and his son Garrin (grandson); David and Holly (son and fiancé) and children Chloe (granddaughter) and Eliseo (grandson); Alice (sister); Luis (brother); Theresa (sister); Rupert (brother); and other extended family. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Maria Ramona (mother); Juan Francisco (father); Francisco ""Frank"" (brother); and Walter (brother); Walter Jr. (nephew) and Eloy Jr. (nephew). In-lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 104, Washington DC 20037 or visit www.vvmf.org. Please share your memories of Robert by selecting the guestbook link below.