Ernest "Ernie" Vialpando

December 22, 1929 - February 14, 2017

Ernest (Ernie) Vialpando, age 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Pueblo VA Community Living Center on February 14th, 2017. He was born on December 22, 1929, in Brighton, CO to Ambrosio Vialpando and Maria Roybal. He married Flabia Lucero on June 10th, 1951. At a very young age his parents moved to Wagon Mound, New Mexico where the rest of his large family would be raised. He loved living in Wagon Mound and would travel back to attend the Wagon Mound Bean Day celebration during Labor Day weekend. He was the second oldest son of thirteen siblings. He had five brothers and seven sisters. He was very proud of helping raise his younger siblings and always had a funny story to tell about each one of them. At the age of 13 he was a sheepherder on the family farm, where he shared that St. Joseph appeared to him while he was in the mountains herding sheep. His nickname was Netito growing up in Wagon Mound. He was always playing practical jokes on everyone. On June 10th, 1951, he married his young wife Flabia Lucero of Anton Chico, New Mexico. Soon after that he was drafted into the Korean War Conflict and would serve from June 1951-June 1953. He received the Korean Service Medal, Sharpshooter, Bronze Star and the United Nations Service Medal. They started their family of three sons and three daughters in Rocky Ford. His greatest joy was when he and his wife purchased the family farm west of Rocky Ford and made sure his children had every animal their hearts desired. His children were blessed with their own petting zoo. He truly loved his family and would always provide for them whatever he could. Family was important to him. He would load up the family in their blue station wagon and take Grandma Mary to visit her mother in Trinidad and would make trips to Taos and Raton to visit cousins. He loved listening to Mexican and country music and loved to sing and dance. He taught his children to dance on their kitchen floor. He had great work ethics and taught his family to never give up and never kick a man when he's down. He worked as an Ammunition Specialist for the Pueblo Army Depot in Pueblo where he retired after 27 years. After his retirement, he went on to earn his GED and earn his Level II Drug and Alcohol Counselor certificate and worked for RESADA for the next twelve years. He struggled with the disease of alcoholism himself and his passion was to help others struggling with the disease. He and his wife opened their home to foster children for eight years and had a total of 30 children come through their doors after their children had left home. They even adopted one of their foster children and added to their family. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He had a heart of gold and was known to always help the homeless and less fortunate with money, food or a warm place to lay their heads. He had a firm belief in his Patron Saint, Saint Jude of whom he gave thanks to many times during his struggle with alcoholism. He lived by the serenity prayer for alcoholics. He enjoyed his trips to Cripple Creek, going for nature walks where he would pick herbs to make his own homemade remedies, exercising and riding his bike. He never met a strange. You were either addressed by hita, hito or bro. He was known as "Gramps" by so many that loved him. He loved to be around children and the elderly. After his health started declining he made his home with his grandson, Johnny as his caregiver. During this time they became the best of friends and never had a dull moment according to Johnny. He had two very caring caregivers, Amber Petrie and Bettina Pantoya, whom he loved very much and appreciated. He spent his last few months at the Pueblo VA Community Living Center where he made friends with the staff and residents who loved him. He touched so many lives throughout his life. Survived by former wife Flabia Vialpando of Colorado Springs, sons Arnold Vialpando of Colorado Springs, Lorenzo (Corrine) Vialpando of Corrales, New Mexico, daughters Linda Pantoya (Marshall Pacheco) of Rocky Ford, Anita (Stephen) Aragon, Jean (Floyd) Medina all of Colorado Springs and Tina Vialpando (Rodney Ortiz) of Pueblo, sisters Gloria (Jesse) Venegas of Brighton (who was like a daughter to him), Clorinda Barela of Rocky Ford, Henrietta Gonzales of Manteca, California and Lucy Vigil of Worland, Wyoming and brother Abel (Flora) Vialpando of Rocky Ford. Also survived by special godson and nephew, Jerry (Shirley) Barela and special niece, Victoria (Ed) Morales of Rocky Ford, special niece Debra (Scott) Eissner, sister-in-law Ida Vialpando of Aurora and several nieces and nephews who claim he was their favorite uncle. Also surviving are his grandchildren Amy Pantoya (Gilbert Zaraz III), Christopher Vialpando, John Pantoya (Katie Monahan), Brittney (Ezra Shepard), Stephanie Aragon, Curtis Medina, Kaylee Medina, Aiden Vialpando and Serenity Dawson. Great-grandchildren Jesse and Izaiah Tapia, Teigan Pantoya, Evan and Elijah Shepard, Cadence and Eric Chapin and Olivia Arreales. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Edward Vialpando, granddaughter Caitlin Vialpando, brothers Levi, Joe, Jim, Henry and Victor Vialpando, and sisters Elsie Cordova, Isabel Rivera and Patsy Cruz. A Rosary Service will be recited at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 4th with the Memorial Mass to follow at 10:30 AM, both in the St. Peters Catholic Church, Rocky Ford, CO. Inurnment will be in the Valley View Cemetery Rocky Ford, CO. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to the Disabled American Veterans; VARO, 155 Van Gordon Str., room 204, Lakewood, CO 80228 or St. Jude's Research; 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ford - Ustick Funeral Home, Rocky Ford, CO. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.