Gene Vecchia

Robert Eugene “Gene” Vecchia, 91, pass away on September 8th, 2024, peacefully in his home. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, and will be missed by all who knew him.

Gene was born June 8, 1933, in Sterling, Colorado to Dominic and Pierina (Baina) Vecchia and was the youngest of six children. After graduating high school, Gene served on a Destroyer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. When his military service ended in 1956, Gene attended Colorado State University (CSU) and received a degree in Forestry. While at CSU, he met the love of his life, Caroline VanBuskirk, and they were married on November 18, 1961. Not long after getting married, Gene accepted a job with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Montrose, Colorado and they started their new life together there in the summer of 1962. While at the BLM in Montrose, Gene worked as a Range Conservationist and spent much of his time working on improving the vegetation and grazing for livestock and wildlife on the Uncompahgre Plateau and surrounding areas around Montrose. In the winter of 1973, Gene accepted a job as the BLM San Luis Valley Field Office Manager, and moved the family to Alamosa, Colorado. He managed the San Luis Valley Field Office until 1982, but his heart always longed to be back on the western slope of Colorado, so in 1982 he accepted another manager job with the BLM and moved back home to Montrose. Gene retired from the BLM in June 1988. 

Gene was first and foremost a devoted family man. He loved spending time with his family and friends just visiting with a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. He had a generous heart, a great sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to carry a conversation. Gene especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, where all his family would meet in Ouray and spend a few days together each year eating too much, playing card games, working puzzles, catching up on all our family’s details, and relaxing. He cherished the simple things in life and had little concern with positions. A good day for him would be a glass of wine with family or friends, some cheese and salami, and a few hours spent talking about the good old days. 

Gene is survived by his loving wife Caroline, children Vanessa Ellis (Steve Ellis), Blaine Vecchia (Charlotte Vecchia), Brent Vecchia (Sergio Ruelas), grandchildren Annika Ellis (Joel Ward), Addison Ellis (Sebastian Andrade), Cierra Vecchia, Derek Vecchia and great grandchildren Harrison and Frederick. Gene also has many loving nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Dominic and Pierina Vecchia, sisters Alba DeSoto (Tommy), Stella Walsh (Ed), Eva Gibbs, (Bud), Olga Roberts (Robert) and brother Aldo Vecchia (Ester). 

A graveside service will be held at Grandview Cometary Tuesday October 15 at 11:30am and a celebration of Gene’s life to follow at “The Club at Coble Creek” from 12:00pm to 3:00 pm with a light lunch being served.

The Family requests in lieu of flowers please donate to Hope West of Montrose in the name of Gene Vecchia.

Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory