Sylvester Arteaga, 71, born December 27, 1951 in Pueblo, Colorado passed away January 25, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Carmen, his children Beatriz Arteaga (James Emrich), Celestina Arteaga (Abram Lucero), his grandchildren Jordon Valdez, Isabella Emrich, Lilah Lucero, and Lucia Lucero. He is preceded in death by his father, Silvestre Arteaga, his mother, Theresa Olivas, and his brother, Fred Olivas, Jr. Surviving siblings are David Arteaga (Pat), Louie Arteaga, Gloria Yamamoto, Frank Arteaga (Maria), Sue Arteaga (Mela), and Robert Olivas.
Sil, short for Silvestre, got his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, his teaching certificate from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs and his Masters of Arts from Adams State College in Alamosa. He taught at all grade levels: elementary, middle school and high school for Pueblo District 60 for decades and then moved on to teach at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo for another decade or more. He coached wrestling at all three levels starting a youth wrestling program at Bradford Elementary and ended with being a teacher and wrestling coach at Central High School.
Sil came from humble means. He was a first generation American whose father had come to the USA in the Bracero Program and taught him about a strong work ethic. He was raised by a strong mother alongside five brothers and two sisters. He learned early about surviving in the streets of Pueblo and he did good representing his family and then his wife and children.
Considered an elder by the Chicano Community he chose to identify with, Sil had a lengthy history of fighting for equal rights. He made sure to give accurate representation of Chicano students in the public schools as a teacher, supported issues such as Take It Down (Columbus Statue), Justice reform and Candidates that ran for public office that truly represented the Chicano Community. He was always present at rallies and marches signifying our struggle as an indigenous person of color.
His last battle dealing with the complications of his heart transplant was indicative of his character. He fought hard to the end to overcome every set back. As in everything, he fought the good fight.
I will miss my Sil. He was a good man.
Funeral Services will be held at Imperial Gardens Funeral Home in Pueblo…5450 Hwy 78 W on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at 10 am. Reception to follow services at Nachos Restaurant…409 N. Santa Fe Ave
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