Joe Martinez was born in Longs Canyon, Colorado and passed away in his Colorado Springs home at the age of 101, surrounded by his loving family.
Joe spent his teenage years in the 1930s working in the Civilian Conservation Corps and shortly thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1942. Joe was a WWII Veteran and served in the European Theater with the 40th Engineer Regiment, Company F, as a combat engineer and amphibious engineer until October 1945. After an honorable discharge from the Army, Joe mined coal at the Frederick Mine in Valdez, Colorado until the late 1950s. He spent the rest of his working career as a civil servant at the U.S. Air Force Academy until his retirement in 1985. Joe loved spending his free time hunting, fishing, camping, reading, gardening, and watching the Colorado Rockies.
He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Amy, his eight children, Joe (Joanie), Tom (Jackie), Kathy (Carl), Alberta (Dave), Carl (Phyllis), Randy, Frank (Michelle), Joan (Mark), his sister, Leola Aragon, of Longmont, 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Manuelita Martinez, and his brother, Sam Martinez.
A Rosary will be held at 9:15 am followed by Mass at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Colorado Springs.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.