Fred Bustamante

Alfredo ""Fred"" Bustamante, of Longmont, died December 9, 2006 at his home after an extended illness. He was 84.Fred was born on April 1, 1922 in Cimarron, New Mexico to Abenecio Bustamante and Marcelina Martinez Bustamante. The family moved to Longmont in the late 1920s. Mr. Bustamante farmed from a young age on his family's small acreage and for other local farmers. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Army, serving in 66th Armored Division. He was a prisoner of war in Germany and received the Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart, an American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon.Upon returning from the war, he married Mary Torres on September 30, 1946 in Amalia, New Mexico. The Bustamante's returned to Colorado, where Mr. Bustamante went to work for the Swift and Company in Denver. He worked there as a meat cutter for 16 years, when the company closed their doors.In 1950, the Bustamante's bought a small farm near Niwot, CO. There the Bustamante Brothers Wood Products Company was started. They began constructing props and cap pieces for the numerous operating mines in the area. The family spent their summers, logging in the high mountains, cutting and sizing lodge pole pine. After the mines closed the company diversified and expanded, providing fence posts, corral fencing, railroad ties, lumber, landscape timbers and firewood. In 1974, the Fred Bustamante and Sons Wood Products was established. He was still involved in the family wood business until the time of his death.Mr. Bustamante was a member of Abundant Life Tabernacle, Johnstown. He loved to grow fresh vegetables on his farm. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.A brother Joe Patrick Bustamante, four sisters Jennie Trevino, Bertha Lopez, Margaret Vigil, and Susie Bustamante precede him in death.Surviving are his wife of Longmont, three sons James Bustamante and his wife Pamela of Ft. Lupton, Bennie Steve Bustamante of Longmont, and Abe Bustamante and his wife Lori of Mead; three daughters Eleanor Cruz and her husband Robert of Frederick, Geraldine Bustamante of Thornton, and Irene Martinez and her husband Phil of Westminster, two brother Lyle Bustamante of Greeley, and Gus Bustamante and his wife Rachel of Longmont, two sisters Ruby Romero and her husband Jose of Thornton and Marcella Gallegos and her husband Albert of Greeley, 21 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.Memorial services will be held at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, December 12 at the First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Dieter Skowron of Abundant Life Tabernacle and Pastor Robert Kerley of the True Vine Pentecostal Church, officiating. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday December 13, 2006 at First United Methodist Church with graveside services to follow at the Longmont Mountain View Cemetery.Contributions may be made to the Fred Bustamante Memorial Fund, c/o Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501.