John Altamore Jr.

John Altamore Jr. departed this life July 27, 2021. Born July 7, 1925, he recently celebrated his 96th birthday. John is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann, parents Mary and John Altamore Sr., in-laws Jack and Grace Spinuzzi, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friend Josie Pantella. John is survived by his three loving daughters, Shirley (Bobby) Ulibarri, Julie (Mike) Scaplo, Lisa (Scott) Banton; grandchildren Anginette Peterson, Dustin Scaplo, Kristin (Anthony) DeBartolo, Andrea (Nik) Miller, Jessie Banton; great-grandchildren Kaelyn and Amara Peterson, Dexter, Harrison John, and Leyla DeBartolo, Zane and Asher Miller; brothers-in-law Sam and Chris (Kay) Spinuzzi, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friend Jimmy DiOrio.

John joined the Navy at age 17 after his graduation from Pueblo Central High School in 1943. Six months later he was on board the USS Solace, a hospital ship, where he served as a pharmacy mate and corpsman second class throughout WWII. John was offshore during the Iwo Jima battle and witnessed the famous raising of the United States Flag. He was discharged in 1946, but was recalled for the Korean War, where he served stateside, at a naval hospital in Oakland, California.

John graduated from the University of Colorado in 1950 with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. He worked at the CF&I Steel Mill in the quality control department as a metallurgist from 1953 until he retired after 44 years in 1996. He was a proud member and served as an officer of Local Union 3267.

John was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He loved nothing more than spending time with family and looked forward to facetiming with the grandchildren whenever he got the opportunity.

John loved watching most sporting events, especially Pueblo High School football, his favorite local event being the Bell Game, “Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat”. He was an avid Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan. He was a hunter and fisherman his entire life, he enjoyed feeding and watching the birds from his kitchen window and working in his garden growing tomatoes and cucumbers.

The family would like to give thanks to the staffs at Cappella of Pueblo West and Sangre De Christo Hospice, with special recognition of Jason and Amber.

Funeral Service will be at T.G. McCarthy Funeral Home, 329 Goodnight, Friday, July 27, 2021, at 11:00 am, with interment to follow at Roselawn Cemetery. The family requests no food or flowers, but donations may be made to either Sangre De Cristo Hospice or Colorado Parks and Wildlife in John’s memory.