Arthur E. Sedillo

Arthur Emilio "Art" Sedillo passed away Thursday, November 8, 2012 at his home in Penrose, Colorado. He was born September 9, 1921 in Agua Dulce, New Mexico, to Julian J. and Lucy L. (Lopez) Sedillo. He moved to Colorado with his family when he was a small boy and graduated from William Smith High School in Aurora in May, 1940.

Art enlisted in the Army and served from August 22, 1942 until October 27, 1945. He was a Sergeant in the 348th Combat Engineer Battalion and, as part of the 5th Engineer Special Brigade, was the first man to put his foot on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His squad was charged with securing the beach in advance of the invasion by the 1st and 29th Infantry. One of Art's duties was to place the 4' X 20' banners directing the Infantry troops to their positions.

Art married Nora L. Lock December 16, 1945 in Plymouth, Michigan. To them were born 6 children. He moved his family to Penrose, Colorado, in 1959 where he resided until his death.

He spent most of his life as a General Contractor, working for various construction companies in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, working the longest period of time for Hensel Phelps Construction.

A man of strong faith in God, Art was an ordained elder in the Cañon City Seventh-day Adventist Church. Art sought the Lord's will in every aspect of his life and studied His word earnestly, always striving to know Him better.

Shortly before he died, he wrote "I shall rejoice when my time comes that I am permitted to lie down to rest in peace. I know Him, whom I love and in whom my soul trusts. He has been a friend. He has kept me in sickness and in health."

Art was a cancer survivor since 1973. He also survived a stroke in 2008. Art suffered a heart attack on October 30, 2012, and was hospitalized from November 2nd until November 8th. By his request, he came home from the hospital about noon on the 8th, under Hospice care, and spent the afternoon talking, joking and laughing with Nora, his kids and grandkids. He was surrounded by family members when he passed away at 5:27 p.m. He was 91 years old. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and spiritual leader, he will be missed by all who knew him.

Art is survived by his wife of almost 67 years, Nora, of Penrose; children: Arthur "Lonnie" (Patti) Sedillo of Cañon City, Suzette "Suzie" (Roger) Keefner of Penrose, Wanda (Clayton) Hart of Ward, Tina Sedillo of Penrose, and Joe (Crystal) Sedillo of Cañon City; brother, Theodore "Lee" Sedillo of Michigan; sister, Marie Smith of Texas; son-in-law, Steve Bowersox of Cañon City; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Mike and Cecil Sedillo; sisters, Louise Guara and Helen Johnson; daughter, Judy Bowersox, and granddaughter, Rebekah Kennedy.

Funeral and burial arrangements entrusted to Imperial Funeral Home and Cemetery, Pueblo, Colorado. Viewing will be held Thursday, November 15, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Imperial Funeral Home, 5450 Hwy 78, Pueblo, Colorado. Services will be held Friday, November 16, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at the Cañon City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3180 E. Main, Cañon City with burial to follow at Imperial Memorial Gardens in Pueblo.