Joseph (Joe) Cuchiaro, 94, a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, passed away at Memorial Hospital on July 31, 2017. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II, spending an extended period in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1946. After completing his service, he obtained a carpenter’s license under the GI Bill. For all the rest of his life he took great pride in being a master craftsman, carpenter and mechanic. In the late 1950s, he ascended to become a Foreman in the construction of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Later he became a successful small business owner, of 8th Street Liquor, in partnership with his late brother Dominic, for 27 years.

Joe was born on March 1, 1923, the first child of Anthony and Mary (Flesca) Cuchiaro. The family farmed land which is now a part of the Colorado Springs Airport. Joe worked on the farm as a young boy, helping to raise crops, milking cows, and taking care of numerous other animals. He went to school in Ellicott.

Joe was always an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed life in Colorado, gardening, and working with his hands, especially woodworking. He became a skilled fishing enthusiast. There was no weather, neither winter nor summer, that Joe would not brave - along with his many fishing buddies - to make expeditions to many of southern Colorado’s best rivers, reservoirs and lakes. In his ninety-fifth year, he could remember how to get to every one of them.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marie, of 67 years. They were married at Corpus Christi Church in Colorado Springs, September 11, 1949. He is also survived by his daughter, Patricia, her partner John; son, Joseph, his wife Jean; grandchildren: Joshua (Hunter), and Joanna (JoJo); and two sisters: Rose Lobue, and Antoinette Watters.

A funeral service honoring Joe will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910. An informal reception for all family, friends, and guests will follow at the Olympian Plaza and Reception Center immediately adjacent to Shrine of Remembrance.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to: Goodwill’s Voyages Daycare Program here in Colorado Springs: http://www.discovermygoodwill.org/programs/voyages.

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