Gabriel Walter Maestas

Gabriel Walter Maestas, 70, (also known as “Gato” to his New
Mexico friends and “Gabe” to his Colorado friends) born on July 10, 1945, passed
away peacefully at home in Las Animas, Colorado on October 27, 2015 after a
long battle with lung cancer. He was born in Alcalde, New Mexico to Ida (Alire)
and Jose Gabriel Maestas.
 
In 1966, Mr. Maestas enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in
the Vietnam War, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. During his time in the military,
he also boxed as a bantam weight fighter. After his military service, Mr.
Maestas met and married Virginia Montano while they were students at New Mexico
Highlands University. He went on to earn his M.A. in social work at the
University of Denver in 1978, working for several years in Children's
Protective Services in Denver before moving to Las Animas, Colorado in 1980 to continue
his 25-year social work career with the V.A. Hospitals at Fort Lyon and Pueblo,
Colorado.
 
He loved fishing, the Sunday newspapers, television sports,
classic cars, and watching tv programs about space aliens and other paranormal
activity with his grandsons.
 
He is survived by his mother, Ida of Alcalde, NM; his wife,
Virginia of the Las Animas home; son, Joaquin of Alcalde, NM; two grandsons,
Joaquin Jr. of Las Animas and Alejandro of Alcalde, NM; brothers, David and
Jeff both of Alcalde, NM; sisters, Elsie (Toby) Trujillo of Rio Chiquito, NM
and Peggy (Vince) Valdez of Alcalde, NM, as well as many nieces and nephews,
friends, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Gabriel;
his siblings, Roger, George, and Donna Maestas; his maternal grandparents,
George and Ida Alire, and his paternal grandparents, Rosendo and Atocha
Maestas.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral
Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
 

A Graveside service will be held on November 23, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.