LA JARA — La Jara resident, Adam J. Pena, 40, found his eternal peace on May 31, 2019. Adam was born in La Jara May 30, 1979 to Gloriamarie Salazar-Pena and Richard Pena.
Adam graduated from Centauri High School in 1998 and immediately joined the army where he did his basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga. After completing his basic training, he was stationed at Ft. Drum Army Base in Watertown, N.Y. and spent a tour of duty in Bosnia and other parts of the world, in which he served in 72 combat missions.
While his army superiors tried their best to get him to apply for Army Ranger School and urged Adam to decide on a life-long career in the military, Adam decided to return back to Colorado to assist his mother in taking care of his beloved aging grandparents, Patrick and Lucy Salazar.
In July of 2011, Adam returned to Denver, and worked as a concrete pump operator for Calco Concrete Pumping Company and Brundage- Bone Concrete Company in Northern Colorado, where he was greatly liked and highly respected.
Adam’s greatest passion was breeding French Bulldogs and American Bulliez and was the founder of AMBZ Dog Club & American Kennel Alliance. Many of Adam’s dogs were award winning American Bulliez. Adam made countless number of friends and acquaintances, transporting dogs coast-to-coast. Adam especially loved his dog Jarhead more than anything and referred to Jarhead “as his son”.
Adam was a gifted photographer and writer and the world has no idea what a talented human being it has lost.
Survivors include, his mother, Gloria Salazar, LaJara, father Richard Pena (Susan) of Romeo, brother Patrick Pena, (Lisa) of Sanford, brother, Richard Pena of La Fayette, sister Renee Martinez (Phillip) of Pueblo his most loyal, devoted, and faithful friend, Connie Baroz-Medina of La Jara and numerous step-siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Adam was preceded in death by his grandparents Fred and Manuelita Pena and Patrick and Lucy Salazar.
A Vigil Service with Recitation of the Rosary will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Jara. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. also at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Jara with full military honors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to San Luis Valley Federal Bank to the Adam James Pena Legacy “Saving A Soul Foundation”. To leave online condolences please visit www.romerofuneralhomes.com. The care of arrangements have been entrusted to Romero Funeral Home of Antonito.
