Joe “Andy” Archuleta
Joe “Andy” Archuleta (Jose Andreas) passed away on December 18, 2020, due to complications from Covid. He was 76 years old. He is survived by the love of his life, wife Gail Archuleta. Their 28th wedding anniversary was just days before his passing. He is preceded in death by his youngest daughter Lisa and daughter in law Juanita, both passed away in 2011. He is also survived by his children, Lori, Andy (Kathy), Victoria and Eddie (Marlene); and stepchildren Richard and Gina Trujillo. He and Gail have 23 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Over the past several years, he worked closely with Max Garcia, who also became like a son to him. Andy was the oldest son in his family and is survived by sister Emilia (Nick), brother Max (Jane), Louie (Georgia) and Ricky (Mercy). He also has a little brother (Louie) that died at age two, that he will meet again in heaven. His parents are also in heaven to greet him.
Andy was a wonderful, fun-loving dad, whose love for his kids knew no bounds and expanded to include their friends. He was always the popular dad on the block, sharing watermelon and ice cream with all of the kids in the neighborhood. He appreciated the importance of a good education and sent his children to parochial schools and bestowed upon them his work ethic. He never missed an opportunity to bond with his family and create memories, taking the family camping and fishing around Colorado every summer, and to Disneyland, which had always been his dream. Besides his family, his passion was cars, and he took particular pride in the vintage cars and trucks he owned over the years, including a vintage blue 1965 fast-back mustang.
Andy was born in Denver to Joe and Aurora Archuleta. He was raised in Mora, New Mexico by his grandparents, Julianita and Narciso Cordova. The family lived in an adobe house on a farm that had no electricity or running water but abounded in love. As a teenager, he moved to Denver to live with his parents. He met Rosalie Garcia when he was 16 years old, they married at age 19 in 1963 and had five kids by the time they were 25 years old. They divorced in 1988, and Rose passed away in 2011.
In 1993, he married Gail and enjoyed the happiest years of his life. Gail was beloved by both Andy and his children, cooking fantastic meals and creating a welcoming home for friends and family.
Andy was a hard worker and excellent provider. After working for several years for Dan Berich Masonry, he, and his partner Joe E. Archuletta, launched A&A Masonry, which provided high quality masonry contracting throughout Colorado for nearly 45 years. Andy always leaned on Dan Berich as a friend and mentor.
He and Gail loved to dine out every weekend, gamble in BlackHawk, travel and hold family parties. Holiday parties at their house provided cherished memories for the entire family. Santa Claus always made an appearance on Christmas Eve and would stay very late in the evening to enjoy tamales and green chile.
Andy also enjoyed working out at the gym and met several friends there. In the past year, he became good friends with a group of senior men that he met at the recreation center while playing pool. When the center closed due to Covid, he built a man cave in his new house that included a pool table where the group played many afternoons. Andy also was an avid Broncos football fan (he never missed a game!) and attended three Super Bowls when the Broncos were playing. He always spoke his mind and loved to have good debates with anyone he could talk into debating with him.
Once Covid is at a point that makes it possible, the family will hold a celebration of life. He was fond of telling his family to just put him in a brick and bury him when he died. So, in honor of this request, a local artist is crafting a brick urn for his ashes. The urn will be delivered to the cemetery in his vintage mustang, escorted by his pool buddies, following the celebration of Andy’s life.
The celebration of life will be held on July 17 at 11:30 a.m at the MACC at 3295 West 72nd Ave (72nd & Irving), in Westminster, CO. After the celebration, his ashes will be interred at Crown Hill Mortuary.