Sam S. Petramala

Memorial Mass: Saturday, April 5, 10 am
                     Place: Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish

Sam Petramala, 83, passed away on March 29, 2014 at his La Junta home. He was born March 12, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to Mike and Susan Petramala.


He moved to La Junta at the age of 13 and started working at Jeffers Pharmacy as a soda clerk. He worked for JC Penney’s for 14 years in La Junta, Lamar, Rocky Ford and Aurora, Colorado. He returned to La Junta in the sixties and worked for Montgomery Wards and then worked for 32 years at R N Mason’s until he retired. He owned and operated Sam’s Café from 1979 – 1985.


During his life he was a member of the La Junta Elks Lodge for 49 years, Exalted Ruler 1977-1978, he was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and Swink Lion’s Club. He was also very active as one of the Key Men in the Koshares.


Sam is survived by his wife, Jo Ann of the La Junta home; children, Vicki Petramala of Raleigh NC; Dan (Lu Anne) Petramala of Northglenn, CO; Donna (Scott) Estep of Lander, WY; Danny (Nanette) Thomas of La Junta; Stephanie (Aaron) Eveatt of La Junta; Lisa Conty of La Junta; and Clayton (Denise) Conty of Soledad, CA; siblings, Mike (Marlene) Petramala of Colorado City; Theresa (Ray) Barnhart of Independence, KS; and Cathy (Ron) Ward of Branson, MO; 20 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Rocco Petramala, daughter, Sherri Wyckoff, and granddaughters, Lucia Estep and Heather Conty.


In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050 or the Koshares Indian Museum, PO Box 580, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through funeral home.


Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.




A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Patrick Parish with Father Matthew Wertin officiating. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Family will be receiving friends and relatives at 1205 Raton on Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday, after the service.