Carl Benedict Cicero, 85, from Fort Collins, Colorado passed away on November 30, 2013. Carl was born on May 17, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. Carl's early years were spent with his family in Southern California. Later, Carl met and married his lovely wife of 45 years, Betty "BJ" and together they raised 6 children in Sun Valley, California.
Carl was a faithful servant of the Roman Catholic Church, actively involved in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish festival, in Sun Valley, where he enjoyed performing as the Emmett Kelly clown. He also served as the Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus Guardian Angel Council 3921 from 1974-75 in Sun Valley. Carl was a Corporal in the US Marine Corp, primarily as an aircraft mechanic during WWII.
Carl had a 35 year career with Pacific Bell, starting as an installer and moving into management. He worked mostly in Southern California and the last years in Newark, California. Carl and Betty retired and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where they enjoyed their "golden years" having lots of fun in the sun and in the casinos. Carl spent his final years with wonderful care at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab in Fort Collins.
Carl loved a good joke as much as he enjoyed playing a good prank. He had a special talent for fixing things and for a few years in retirement was "Mr. C" the repairman. Carl's favorite pastimes were playing golf, poker and dancing.
Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Betty (1995). He is survived by his children: Carl "Jerry" (Lori) of Fort Collins; Victoria "Vicki" (Franco) Peralta of Las Vegas; Christina "Tina" (George) Pearson of Bullhead City, AZ; Carla (Thomas) Altepeter of Spokane, WA; Toni of Fort Collins and Thomas "Tom" (Sandy) of Las Vegas. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.
Carl was loved and respected by everyone he met and will be truly missed.
Recitation of the Rosary will be said at 7:00 pm, Sunday, December 15th at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, December 16th at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, concluded by full military honors. The celebration gathering and luncheon will follow in Mother Seton Hall.
On December 30, 2013, a Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 am at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Parish in Las Vegas, followed by a procession to lay Carl to rest next to Betty at Bunkers Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (
www.alz.org
).