Vicente Z Serrano

Vicente Zendejas Serrano, age 90, died peacefully in his home in Centennial, CO surrounded by his children and wife, Carmen on Saturday, March 16, 2024. He was born on April 5, 1933, in Topeka, KS, the son of Carlos and Paula (Zendejas) Serrano. Vicente attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Parochial School and was a graduate of Hayden High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Washburn University, KS.; and a Master of Science at Kansas State Teachers College, KS.; a Certification at Kalamazoo College, MI at the NDEA Language Institute in Spanish; and a Certification in Adult Basic Education for Spanish Speaking at Oregon State University, OR and was a Ph.D. Candidate in Administration and Foundations; Community Education at Kansas State University, KS. 

Vicente has been dedicated to a career in education in some capacity for more than thirty-five (35) years. He has taught Spanish at all levels from Pre-K to Adult Education and at Kansas State University, KS. He has been a program administrator, manager, presenter, teacher, counselor, and trainer with a diverse and extensive background in Education Consultation and specifically working in the areas Migrant Education, and Equity Consultation. 

In 1953, Vicente enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an Aviation Cadet and admitted into the pilot program which was the predecessor to the U.S. Air Academy. Promoted to rank of Cadet Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Squadron Commander. He reverted to airman and was assigned to the Medical Administration Specialty School, Gunther AFB, in Montgomery, AL where he was the class leader and second in class academic ranking. Vicente was honorably discharged in 1955. 

In 1957, he married Carmen Rita Ortega in Topeka, KS. He is survived by his wife, Carmen, and their children, Anna Marie (Mark) Miller, Raymond Scott Serrano, Vincent Martin Serrano, Magdalen Carmen (Wayne) Gilpin, and Christina Paula Serrano, two grandchildren Christopher (Brittany) Miller, Leanna Miller and two great grandchildren Nathaniel Miller and Skylar Miller; his siblings, Philip Carlos "Junior" (Emily) Serrano, Peter Alfonso (Bridget) Serrano, and Margaret S. (Pablo) Cortez and many nieces, nephews; and other family members. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Louis Serrano, Leocadia S. Navarro, and Natividad Serrano who died in infancy, two great grandchildren Devon Rodriguez and Orion Miller both who died in early childhood, and his brother-in-law, Pablo Cortez.

Services held Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 S. Quebec St., Centennial, CO; (www.stthomasmore.org)  beginning with a Rosary is at 10:15 am; Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am with celebrant Father Darrell Schaffer. Reception immediately following in the church gathering room. Burial with Honors will follow at The Fort Logan National Cemetery (Section B), 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO., at 2:30 pm. 

The family asks that any memorial donations be made to the order of Carmel of the Holy Spirit, 6138 S. Gallup St., Littleton, CO, 80120 (https://carmeliteslittleton.org/monastic-life/) in memory of Vicente Serrano.