Andrew Fred Penasa, Sr.

Andrew Fred Penasa Sr.
June 13, 1922 ~ September 25, 2017
Our beloved father, Andrew (Andy) Fred Penasa Sr. was born on June 13, 1922 in Ophir, Colorado to Italian immigrant parents, Serafino and Mary (Zanon) Penasa. While his father mined for gold and silver, his mother ran the Penasa General Store and Boarding House. Andy attended the one room school house in Ophir. When not in school, he helped his father with the laborious and sometimes treacherous job of transporting high grade ore down from his father’s mine via mules and a sled. Working with his father at a young age helped to ingrain in him a work ethic that he would carry throughout his life and that he would eventually bestow upon his children.
As a teenager, Andy attended some high school in Telluride. After his father’s untimely death, he obtained employment at the Alta Mine, high above Telluride, working in the dining hall/ boarding house as a kitchen helper, earning $1.00 per day. Hearing the stories of the hard rock miners, he convinced himself that he should follow his father’s footsteps. After coming of miner’s age, 16, Andy learned the ropes of mining at the St. Louis Mine above Rico before transferring to Telluride Mines as a mucker. And, through persistence and hard work he was eventually promoted to motorman on the ore train, making a respectable wage of $0.50 per hour.
After several years in the mines, Andy joined the Navy in April of 1944. He was assigned to shore patrol on Treasure Island, California. As an MP (Military Police) his primary duty was guarding of German war prisoners. During his time in the service, he made many good friends from all branches of the service and some of those friendships lasted the duration of his lifetime. In 1946, longing to return to Colorado and after achieving the rank of Seaman 1st Class, Andy was honorably discharged from the Navy and moved to Montrose, Colorado, where his mother was living.
Hartman Brothers was a well-established automobile dealership, service center and gas station, and Andy was fortunate enough to obtain employment there in the parts department. He excelled in this capacity and it was at Hartman Brothers that he began to form the many friendships of his customers and coworkers, such as Bud Abrahamson, Emory Arndt, and Leland Howard, among many others. Automobiles were in limited supply in those days, and although Andy dearly wanted one, most vehicles were spoken for before they ever arrived at the dealership. Finally, one day when a new shipment of auto’s arrived, he took the keys to a fine ’46 Dodge and put them in his pocket, telling Joe Hartman, “This one is mine and I’m not giving up the keys.” Reluctantly, Joe Hartman finally gave in and Andy’s dream was realized. Andy continued to work in their parts department as a devoted employee for 27 years.
After his move to Montrose, Andy also met the love of his life, Winifred Frances Gibbs. They were wed on July 9, 1950 and proceeded to have six children. The oldest Susan, was ill from an early age but was painstakingly cared for until her passing at the age of 10. Winifred’s parents had started and operated the Gibbs Egg Farm for years until their retirement and at the point Andy decided to try something new. After leaving his job at Hartman Brothers, Andy and Winifred (Winnie), took over the Gibbs Egg Farm and continued the family business. Along with the egg business, the farm also contained approximately 22 acres of hay fields and some dairy cows. Long days and short nights were the norm during this stage in Andy’s life. Some 3,000 chickens had to be fed, eggs had to be gathered, cleaned, candled and cartoned and delivered to many of the local restaurants as well as a nursing home and the hospital. Extra eggs were cartoned, stamped with the farm logo, and taken to the local City Market store where they were never on the shelf for long. On top of that, he irrigated and cultivated the farm ground, produced hay and milked cows, all with the helping hand and encouragement of Winnie by his side. As grain prices rose and egg prices remained flat, together they finally decided to shut down the egg farm. Andy continued to maintain the cattle on their farm but took a job at C. Westco Distributing, a local restaurant supply warehouse, as his main source of income and was a loyal and devoted employee there for 13 years.
Although semi-retired, Andy found a new love for the farm life and continued to raise cattle, grow hay and beautiful flowers, garden and generally tend to his place with a loving hand, all the while with Winnie by his side and his children maturing. He never could slow down though, and he was never one to stop moving. Helping relatives, friends and neighbors was a second nature to him, and in his soft spoken way, he always had a kind word for everyone, including strangers. He loved to haul and split firewood, take his grandsons to their lawn mowing jobs, go for long country rides with his brother Jim, take long walks, and although he didn’t begin skiing until later in life, he loved to ski and usually did several times each winter, usually Powderhorn and almost always surrounded by his adoring grandchildren. He continued to ski up until his early 90’s. And oh how Andy loved to ride his bicycle just up the road or on the bike path, rain or shine, snowy or icy, sometimes over to the Hangin’ Tree, just to see what was new and to visit with whoever wanted to visit. That’s just the kind of man he was.
In his later years, Andy was able to finally slow down a bit. He was a lifelong member of the Nazarene Church and his Godly ways preceded him throughout his life. He was the epitome of good health, gained from years of physical labor and exercise right up until his final years and he always prided himself on being able to fit into and wear his Navy Blues, which he did faithfully, sometimes on Memorial Day and always on Veterans Day, for nearly 70 years. Andy loved to drive and did so daily well into his 90’s, mostly just short jaunts to the CO-OP for a cup of coffee and popcorn or to the market for a few things. Occasionally he rode with his grandson, Jason Kastendieck on service calls up to his childhood playgrounds around Ophir and Trout Lake, reminiscing about growing up in the mountains that he loved. He cherished the time he was able to spend with his numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And, of course, he continued to admire and love his wife of 67 years, Winnie, whom he called “Sweetheart”, until his last breath. Dad, God Rest Your Soul.
Andy was proceeded in death by his parents; his brothers, Serafino and August; two infant brothers; his sister, Katie Dabney; and also his eldest daughter, Susan Elaine.
Andy is survived by his wife Winifred “Winnie” Penasa and children David (Celeste) Penasa, Albuquerque, NM; Andrea Penasa, Grand Junction, CO; Mary (Darrell) Kastendieck, Fred (Sharon) Penasa, and Dan Penasa, all of Montrose, CO; two brothers, James Penasa of Montrose, CO; and Albert Penasa of Cortez, CO. Andy was also blessed with 17 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Andrew Fred Penasa Sr. passed into his heavenly home on Monday, September 25, 2017 with loving family by his side, at his home as he wished. The Penasa family wishes to take this opportunity to thank all of the dedicated nursing staff at Montrose Memorial Hospital for their care of our father during his brief stay there and extend a sincere thank you to the HopeWest Hospice for their support and guidance in our time of need.
A Memorial Service to honor Andy will be held at the Montrose First Church of the Nazarene, 705 South 12th Street, on Saturday, September 30th, 2017 at 1:00 PM, to be followed by a graveside ceremony at Cedar Cemetery with Military Honors. Please join us in the memorial of this great man. Coffee and donut holds will be served prior to the service and a potluck luncheon will take place at the church following the graveside service. Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory.