Juan Francisco Vertiz
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6 A Death Notice - October 25, 2016
Former Fruita resident, Juan Francisco Vertiz, 38, Denver,
died Oct. 14, 2016, in Denver.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Redlands Community Center.
He was an artist.
Survivors include his parents, Juan F. and Peggy Vertiz of
Fruita; one brother, Tommy of Fruita; and one sister, Kathy of
Fruita.
Memorial contributions to the Colorado Mesa University Art
Department, in care of CMU Foundation, 1450 N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81501.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7 B Obituary - October 26, 2016
Juan Francisco Vertiz
February 15, 1978 - October 14, 2016
With deep sadness, we share the passing of a passionate artist, a loving uncle, brother and son, a loyal and cherished friend. Juan Francisco Vertiz was born in Grand Junction, CO to Juan "Johnny" Vertiz and Peggy Fitzhugh Vertiz on February 15, 1978. Juan, age 38, left this world suddenly on October 14th, 2016, at his home in Denver. Juan enriched our lives
in so many ways. Raucous laughter, Heavy Metal music, a
gnarly beard and stinging sarcasm cloaked him. He was a Super Hero who was in truth, the gentlest of souls. He possessed great depths of love and compassion, and uncommon talent of expression.
His artist’s charisma gave him an ability to capture opposing
ends of a spectrum and create beautiful, final and unexpected
conclusions in both his art and his relationships.
Juan grew up on the family farm and was a 1996 graduate of
Fruita Monument High School. In 2003, Juan graduated with a
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Mesa State College, something he worked tirelessly to achieve. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Denver to live his life and pursue his passion for the arts. From the time he could hold pencils and crayons, Juan colored and sketched. With paper and pencil in hand, flights of fancy took Juan to destinations we mere mortals could never imagine. His face would go completely still, his amazing eyes would glimmer and shine, and startling images would simply appear on page after page of paper. A camera in Juan’s hands was a magical tool. His photos were raw, real and beautiful.
Juan was never like everyone else, he was extraordinary! His
sweetest joy came from being Tio to his beloved nephew, Jackson, and niece, Emmylou. Romping through the yard, munching cereal, watching Saturday morning cartoons, sprawled across the floor, coloring, Tio adored every minute he spent with them.
Juan was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Jim and
Doris Jean Fitzhugh, and his paternal grandparents, Ascencion
Ybarra and Francisco Vertiz of Spain. Here at home, Juan is
mourned by parents, Johnny Vertiz and Peggy Vertiz, both of
Fruita; his little brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Kathy
Vertiz of Fruita, and his cherished nephew and niece, Jackson
and Emmylou Vertiz. Others who’ll miss Juan include his Tia
Maria Ascuncion Vertiz of Spain (Vicente Herrera, deceased);
his aunts and uncles, Beverly Fitzhugh of Missouri; Rodney and
Gay Fitzhugh of Ridgeway; David Fitzhugh of Kansas, and
Mike and Cheryl Fitzhugh of Telluride. Juan’s partners in crime
including Joe Gorrino, Dave and Bennett Davenport, Kelton
Coppinger and Jay McGlade will help lay him to rest. Juancho
was a beloved son and brother to the Basque community, who’ll
mourn his passing while celebrating his life. Juan’s circle, from
the Bearded Villains to the quietest of art forums and countless
friends, are all richer for having known his true heart. Life won’t
be the same now that Juan is somewhere else. We’ll find him,
though, in every Taco Tuesday, in every scrawny beard that
doesn’t measure up, in every brilliant sunrise and sunset that
sets the sky on fire.
There will be a viewing Friday, October 28 from 5 - 7:00 p.m.
at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road in Grand
Junction. Services will be Saturday, October 29, beginning at
10:00 a.m. at Redlands Community Center, 2463 Broadway in
Grand Junction. Burial will follow at Orchard Mesa Cemetery
in Grand Junction. A gathering for remembrance and a meal
will be held at Redlands Community Center immediately after
the internment.
Memorial contributions can be made in Juan Francisco Vertiz’
name to the CMU Art Department, in care of the CMU Foundation, 1450 N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 or online at https://supportingcmu.org/giving/payment. Those wishing to donate directly to the family can send checks to the Juan Vertiz Memorial Fund at Alpine Bank in Fruita, 125 N Park Square, Fruita, CO, 81521.
