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SANTISTEVAN, ARMANDO J. died on March 4, 2013. He closed his eyes in sleep, and awoke to see the glorious face of God. Born in 1922, he was a member of what has rightly been called "America's Greatest Generation": those kids who came of age during the deprivation of the Great Depression, fought and helped win a world war, and rebuilt America into the great country it is today. He was born in Taos, New Mexico - in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains - to Cruz and Frances Santistevan, and spent his youth ranching in his beloved mountains of northern New Mexico. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, a member of the American GI Forum, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Cursillo Movement, but his most important role was Dad and Grandpa. Dad was born with an appetite for travel. Following the war, he saw the sky and followed the sun; moving with his family around the American west. In addition to travel, he loved animals, being outdoors, fishing and hunting, the big sky, motorcycles, and Star Trek. Most of all, he loved being in what he lovingly called "the high country." Over the course of his life, he held a number of jobs. He and mom devoted their lives to caring for their extended families, but the greater part of his career was spent with the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S Forest Service. Both of which allowed him to spend so much time in the outdoors that he cherished. As a surveyor, he walked miles of New Mexico's llanos, canyons, and mountains - and throughout the state, there are way points and survey markers named after his friends and children. He had an engaging smile and a wonderful sense of humor. He will be profoundly missed by all of us who loved him so very much. He was preceded in death by brothers Robert Mossman, Julian Duran, and Deacon Patrick Santistevan; by his dearly-loved wife of fifty years, Petrita Romero Santistevan; son Michael; and daughter Fabiola. He is survived by two sisters, Alice Sosa and Mabel Rich, and by six children, 24 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. In addition to countless friends and loved ones, he is also survived by his wife Irene - over whom he cared so well - and by his constant canine companion of 18 years, Toby. "Look to the heavens and count the stars so shall your posterity be." Gen. 15-5. Services will be conducted at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 12500 Carmel Avenue NE. A rosary will be recited on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 12 at 10:00 AM, followed by a reception at the church parish center. Internment and military honors will be conducted at a private ceremony. Farewell, dear voyageur - the river winds and turns; The cadence of your song wafts near to me, And now you know the thing that all may learn: There is no death - there's immortality
        Published on: Sun March 10, 2013