John "Bud" Dekleva, Jr.
Marriages
Joann E - October 22, 1960
In San Juan Capistrano, California
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 B Death Notice - September 1, 2016
John “Bud” Dekleva Jr., 82, Grand Junction, died Aug. 29, 2016, at HopeWest and Hospice Care.Services will take place at 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.Survivors include his wife, JoAnn E.; and one sister, Caroline Re-tolaza of Grand Junction.Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3 D Obituary - September 4, 2016
John “Bud” Dekleva, Jr. was
born on November 19, 1933 at
Somerset, CO to John and
Mary Dekleva, and passed
away on August 29, 2016 at
HopeWest Hospice after a
brief illness.
John attended school at
Somerset through the eighth
grade and graduated from
Paonia High School with the
class of 1951. He was a
football and wrestling
standout. He attended
Colorado A&M College (now
Colorado State University) in
Fort Collins, CO, where he
played football for the Aggies
for four years as a guard. In
1955 the team won the
Skyline Conference
championship and was invited
to play in the Salad Bowl game in Phoenix, AZ. John graduated
with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and History. He
enlisted in the Marine Corps and was accepted to the Officer’s
Candidate School at Quantico, VA, on January 1, 1957. Upon
completion of his training as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was assigned
to the 5th Marines Unit at Camp Pendleton, CA, where he was a
Platoon Leader. He also played football for the Marine Corps.
John was honorably discharged in March, 1960.
John married JoAnn, the love of his life for 55 years, in San
Juan Capistrano, CA, on October 22, 1960. He took a job with
TRW, Inc. as a systems analyst for the Ballistic Missiles
Division, working on the Titan missiles. John spent his career
with TRW, Inc. working in southern California, except for three
years when he was assigned to Boston, MA. John and JoAnn
lived in Riverside, CA. When he retired in November 1992,
they moved to Ramona, CA, where they were busy playing golf,
making new friends, and traveling. John’s favorite places were
the Big Island of Hawaii on the Kona Coast and Ocean Shores,
WA.
John was an outgoing person who made friends easily. In
November, 2000 he suffered a massive stroke, which left him
unable to speak or write. He and JoAnn moved to Grand
Junction in 2003 to be near family. Although unable to
communicate with words, his love and warm personality were
communicated through his easy smile, his warm brown eyes,
and a mischievous wink. He will be missed and live in our
hearts forever.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnn; sister, Caroline Retolaza;
niece, Michelle Shaffer, husband, Scott and sons, Matthew and
Nicholas all of Grand Junction; two nieces, Andrea Kratzert and
Kerri Biranus and families all of Lancaster, PA.
A memorial service will be held at the Veterans Memorial
Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Parkway, on Wednesday, September
7, at 1:00 p.m. A reception at the Chipeta Golf Course
clubhouse will follow.
