Pete Apodaca

Pete J. Apodaca, born in Sunrise, Wyoming on April 17, 1937 passed away on January 2, 2020 in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 82 years old.

He attended school in Sunrise and graduated from Sunrise High School where he enjoyed being part of the basketball team. After high school, he began his mining career at the Sunrise Mine. He married his wife, Ruby Santistevan, on October 20, 1959. With his young family in tow he relocated to Leadville, Colorado to work at the Climax Molybdenum Mine in 1963. He retired from Climax after 27 years of employment and remained in Leadville until relocating to Grand Junction in 2005. He and his loving and devoted wife, Ruby, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on October 20, 2019.

He is survived by his wife Ruby; his children LaiLoni Apodaca,  Pete Apodaca Jr. (Sheli), Cecilia Apodaca (Steve), Yvonne Mondragon (Robbie), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margarita; his brothers, Alfred, Albert, Gus and Lloyd; his sister, Jenny and his son, Steve (Cecilia).

He loved his family deeply and bestowed his unique sense of humor to all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the Hope West Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, Colorado.