Cosmos Gus Bustamante

Cosmos was born May 2, 1926 in Ponil Park, New Mexico to Abenicio Bustamante and Marcelina Martinez. He came to Hygiene and then Longmont, Colorado with his family as a young child. He was in the army from 1944 to 1946, serving in WWII, touring the Pacific and Japan and earning four honorary medals. He and his wife, Rachel Cruz, were married for 63 years, residing in Longmont.

During his 15 year tenure at Swift Meat Packing Company (Denver), he received an award for innovating a procedure for increasing proficiency and productivity. Cosmos simultaneously started a logging business, Bustamante Brothers, continuing the Bustamante legacy with his brothers Fred and Lyle. Cosmos later founded his own logging company with the help of his five daughters while his sons, Raul and Armando, were in college and the military respectively. Upon the return of his sons, together, with his nephew Mitch, they eventually grew and established the company, United Wood Products Inc., in 1975 in Longmont. After retiring, Cosmos pursued a small business venture crafting, building, and selling signature Adirondack furniture with his wife Rachel and his grandchildren.

Cosmos enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and making trips “up the hill”. More than anything, Cosmos enjoyed being with his family. For many years, Cosmos instilled the traditions of annual family 4th of July camping trips to the Miracle Mile in Wyoming and religiously celebrating holidays and birthdays as a family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Abenicio and Marcelina Bustamante, three brothers, “Joe” Patricio, and Fred, and six sisters, Suzie, Mary Helen, Bertha, Jenny, Ruby, and Margaret. Survivors include his wife, Rachel; two sons, Armando Bustamante and his wife, Marissa, and Raul Bustamante and his wife Rose; five daughters, June Yvonne Amaya and her husband Tony, Susette Williams and her husband Rick, Yolanda Silva and her husband Rick, Rachel Rodriguez and her husband Polo, and Roxanna Gallegos and her husband Joe; eighteen grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Joe Lyle Bustamante and David Bustamante, and one sister, Marcella Gallegos.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s the Baptist Church, 323 Collyer St, Longmont, CO 80501. Burial will follow at Longmont Mountain View Cemetery. An open house with light refreshments will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the farm.

Memorial donations to help the family with funeral costs can be made c/o Howe Mortuary.