Alfonso Fernando Salamanca

Alfonso Fernando Salamanca born September 23, 1950 in Greeley, Colorado. Al was to second son to Tony and Margaret Salamanca of Platteville. Al was a happy and calm child growing up with a smile on his face. Al grew up as the second oldest of seven children. He graduated from Valley High School in 1968. He was in the Pride of the Valley Band and Stage Band as a tuba player. In high school enjoyed time with his friends, singings and worked on the Salamanca farm. While working on the Salamanca farm he hauled sugar beets for his late father, Tony. Al first met his wife, Mona, at a Valley Football game. She was working the FHA concession stand and he asked to walk beside her; she said yes. Al was drafted in 1969, was injured and received an honorable discharged and did not have to go to war. His first job was at Monfort Packing Plant in Greeley as a butcher, sheep kill. Al started boxing at 23 years old. He was a heavy weight boxer and was the AAU Golden Gloves Champion. He was a coach at the Longmont Boxing Club and coached many young men through out the years. Al and Mona married November 14, 1975 in Greeley at the Justice of the Peace. They lived in Greeley and Evans before moving into the home they helped build in Gilcrest in 1976. Al and Mona had three sons, Vincent Mathew, Isaac Jacob, Fransisco Diego and a daughter, Elizabeth Marie. They baptized two Godchildren, Carl Slate and Michael Moreno. Al was a loving and sturn father who enjoyed working beside his children on his home improvement projects, in mason work, while DJingand farming. He also enjoyed sharing stories with family and friends. Al was employed at Golden Aluminum in Fort Lupton for 22years. He enjoyed his leadership positions and prided himself in always putting in a hard days work. Alfonso fostered his love of singing and started his business Big Al’s Karaoke and DJ. He would DJ and host karaoke across Northern Colorado. He started every gig with a song and then opened the mic to all who wanted to sing. Alfonso liked to play pool and golf. Alfonso was a good dart player and enjoyed the time spent with his siblings playing darts and singing karaoke. In friendship he was generous and supportive in his giving and believed everyone deserved to be given a chance. He enjoyed playing softball with his good friends. Alfonso died from complications with diabetes. He died surrounded by family and left this earth with prayers and love. His suffering has seized and he can now be reunited with our Father and his proceeding loved ones. Al would want us to remember that he loved us and cared about us all.