George James Distefano
Marriages
Nancy
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B Death Notice - November 27, 2018
George James Distefano, 89, Palisade, died Nov. 22, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Clifton Christian Church. Internment will follow at 1 p.m. at Palisade Cemetery. He was a farmer. Survivors include two daughters, Diana Sue Hardin of Grand Junction and Carol Ann Distefano of Palisade; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506, or Palisade American Legion Auxiliary, Lincoln Post Unit 50, 120 Eight St., Palisade.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - November 30, 2018
George James Distefano February 22, 1929 - November 22, 2018
Our spunky, amazing, caring father and grandfather, George James Distefano, passed away on November 22, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center, he was 89. He was born February 22, 1929, to James and Katherine Distefano in Tabiona, Utah. He was the eighth child out of nine. George joined the Army when he was 18 years old. He was discharged in 1947, as Sargent First Class. He served two tours of duty where he was stationed in Korea and was an ambulance driver. When he was 21 he was in charge of the dispensary which was the Doctor Clinic. He earned a WWII Victory Medal and an Army of Occupation Medal in Japan. In 1947 he bought his peach orchard from his Dad and lived there the remaining years of his life. In Palisade he met the love of his life, Nancy, and they were married September 14, 1950. George and Nancy were married 66 years until Nancy’sdeath in 2016. They had two daughters, Diana and Carol. George started working at the Grand Junction VA Medical Center when it opened in 1949 and retired in 1985. He started out as a Nurses Aid, then a painter, and eventually retired as the Chief of Police. George was well known in the community. He coached baseball for the American Legion, Palisade High School when they became state champions in 1969, Palisade Legionettes women’s softball team and several coed teams which included his daughter, Carol, and grandchildren. George was known for his third base antics, kicking the dirt and getting excited when he got the player around the bases to score. George ran the Colorado West Showdown softball tournaments for several years and the young kids always knew that if they fetched a softball and took it to George he would give them a quarter. George was honored through the Colorado Hall of Honor for Softball through the ASA softball association in Denver, CO. He took the Palisade Legionettes to many National tournaments over the years. He was a member of the American Legion Post #50 for 63 years. He had a strong belief in God and his country. During this time with the American Legion he started the Palisade Easter Egg Hunt in 1959 and ran it until 2016 when he handed it over to his grandson, Derrick. That year, in 2016, he was presented by the Palisade Mayor, a Palisade Pride Outstanding Citizen Award in recognition of his contributions for the 57 year tradition. George’spassion was his fruit orchard where he raised peaches and cherries. His grandson, Derrick, loved the orchard as much as his Grandpa so George took him under his wing and showed him the ropes of running it. George has been named Fruit Grower of the year. He loved to give little baggies of fruit to all his friends at the restaurant, bank and pharmacy and to see the smiles on their face. George was a storyteller and loved to talk about his time in the Military, his career at the VA, his orchard and about his conversations he had with his buddy, Kenny. George would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere and loved getting to know people. He had a love and respect from all the people whose lives he touched. George would do anything for his family and friends and his outgoing friendliness, caring love and kindness will truly be missed. We will always love you and hold you close to our hearts. You will be greatly missed. George is survived by daughters, Diana Hardin (Pat), and Carol Distefano; grandchildren, Tekoa Shalom, Jessica Selan, Krystinna Hardin (Jason), Trevor Hardin, Derrick Selan (Mandy), and Hallie Hardin; great-grandchildren, Harmony, Hope and Riley Hardin, Rhyan Mason and Autumn Pope. He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Nancy; granddaughter, Hannah; mother, Katherine; father, James, and his siblings, Leonard, William "Bill", James, Perry, Joseph "Joe", Felma "Sis", LeRoy "Tete", and Thomas. Services will be held December 3, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the Clifton Christian Church of Clifton, Colorado. Graveside services and Military Honors will follow at the Palisade Municipal Cemetery of Palisade, CO at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to HopeWest 3090B North 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506, or American Legion Post 50 PO Box 36, Palisade, CO 81526. Services were entrusted to Affordable Memorial Care of Clifton, Colorado.
