Joe Dan Baublits was born on October 11, 1928, and passed from this life on September 15, 2018, just short of his 90 th birthday. At the time of his demise he was being lovingly cared for by members of the Arkansas Valley Hospice at Pioneer Health Care Center in Rocky Ford. Family members were by his side as he left his broken body and moved on to being in peace, traveling with the three angels that appeared to him.

Joe's parents were M.C. (Heck) and Ruby A. Baublits, both deceased. He was the youngest of their six children – brothers Claude, George, Jack, Don and Ashley who loved their little brother and had named him "Chongo". The only brother now living is Don, who makes his home in Eatonville, Washington.

Joe Dan (his friends from Las Animas have always called him that) began his education in the Cornelia School, north of Las Animas. He continued in the Las Animas school system and graduated high school there in 1947. He then went to Telegraphy School and on graduation began working for the AT&T Railway. He was drafted in 1951 and was sent to Camp Cordon, Georgia for basic training. Following basics he was stationed in Vienna, Austria with the Military Police for two years. At the end of his tour in Vienna he returned to Las Animas and continued working for the railroad until he retired in 1990.

On April 9, 1953, he married Shirley Nadine Johnson of Las Animas. They had three children – Kevin Joel, who died at birth; Bruce Blake who resides in Cimarron, KS with his wife Shelley; and Lucinda Kay (Cindy) Abert who resides in Rocky Ford with her husband Darren.

Throughout their 65 years of marriage, and especially after retirement, they enjoyed many travels around the world. They have been active members of the Rocky Ford First Baptist Church since 1960, where Joe was one of God's great helpers. Joe loved playing golf with his buddies Al Schafer, Jerry Sitton and Derald Brenneman. He had often said he planned to do so until he turned 90, but bad knees and other health issues didn't allow that goal to be met. Working in his yard and flower gardens also filled many hours of his retired days.

He is survived by his wife, son Bruce (Shelley Frankmore) Baublits; daughter Cindy (Darren) Abert; brother Don Baublits; grandchildren Lane (Cassandra) Abert of Plains, KS; Jaimie Abert of Boynton Beach, FL; twins Matt and Joel Baublits of Westlake Village, CA; and Nathan Baublits of Cimarron, KS. Joe did get to enjoy his first great-grandson, Easton Abert; and he has many special nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter at birth, Rebecca Lyn Baublits.            Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the First Baptist Church in Rocky Ford. Because Joe loved the outdoors and so wanted to have the opportunity to see Bruce's new cabin in Creede, some of his ashes will be taken there. Inurnment will be held prior to the service at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Rocky Ford.