Juan Richard Ibarra, 93, of Franktown, Colorado, passed away on Jan. 26, 2025 in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Known to all as “Richard” … he was born July 6, 1931, to Jose Manuel Ibarra and Consuelo (Saucedo) Ibarra in Veteran, Wyoming. Richard and his brothers Benjamin and Jose and sister Maria lived with their parents in Durango, Mexico for a number of years, and after the deaths of their father and mother in 1940 and 1936 respectively, eventually came to live with and were raised by their aunt and uncle, Refugio “Cuco” and Altagracia (Saucedo) Casillas. In 1943, the family moved to Sunrise. Richard attended Sunrise schools and graduated from Sunrise High School in 1952. He was a stellar student, and played all sports, earning letters for his achievements.
Beginning in 1952, Richard served in the United States Air Force, during both the Korean and VietNam conflicts. Airman First Class RegAF Ibarra received both the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal and went on to serve in the Air Force Reserve at the 153rd Air Base Squadron, Air National Guard in Cheyenne. Richard was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force April 20, 1960. Richard met the love of his life in 1958, Anna (Medina) Ibarra. They wed Dec. 30, 1958. For more than 66 years, they raised a family, grounded in love, hard work, and togetherness.
Richard attended the University of Texas El Paso and the University of Wyoming in pursuit of a Civil Engineering degree. He received professional registrations in Wisconsin and Colorado as a Civil Engineer/Land Surveyor. Residing principally in the Denver area, Richard worked for various engineering firms, and in 1964, went to work for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, providing technical assistance with hands-on travel, to various tribes throughout the United States. He retired from the federal government in 1989, and after a brief stint as a deputy with the Adams County Corrections Department, Richard, Anna and family moved to Benton, Arkansas, where he worked as a consultant and surveyor for the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department until 1996.
In 1996, the family moved to Hartville. Richard and Anna fell in love with the old St. Anthony’s Catholic Church there, and converted and updated the parsonage into a comfortable home. The church building was in dire need of repairs, as were a number of town landmarks and utilities, and Richard took the lead both as councilman and mayor of Hartville.
In 2006, Richard and Anna, along with Teresa and Travis, moved to Guernsey, and had a home built at the same site as his ‘parents’, ‘Cuco’ and Altagracia Casillas lived for many years. During the family’s time there, he was a lifetime member of VFW Post 4471, a member of the St. Anthony’s Church Council, a board member of the Guernsey Senior Citizens, and a board member of Platte County Senior Services Inc. Richard was also a past president of Guernsey State Park.
Over the years, Richard and Anna obtained a lease at Guernsey State Park and built a lakeside-cabin and dock from the ground up. Literally hundreds of family and friends enjoyed their second home - and logged thousands of hours boating, swimming and relaxing.
Richard’s most important legacy was family. He stressed education, hard work and faith, and always told everyone, “You can be whatever you want to be.” In 2020, Richard, Anna and daughter Teresa came to live in Franktown, Colorado at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Shirley (Ibarra) Morgan and Tim Morgan.
Richard is survived by his wife Anna (Medina) Ibarra, daughter Deborah (Ibarra) CdeBaca and son-in-law Joseph CdeBaca, daughter Shirley (Ibarra) Morgan and son-in-law Tim Morgan and son Travis Benjamin Ibarra. His daughter Teresa Jane Ibarra passed away Sept. 6, 2021. “Grandpa Richard” is also survived by one grandson, Marcos A. CdeBaca (Amber) and four great-grandchildren, Sydney Beavers, Isaac Joseph CdeBaca, Francisco Zavala and Amiyah CdeBaca. Richard is also survived by his first cousin, with whom he grew up in Wyoming, Antonia Casillas, sister-in-laws Mary Passerelli and Ramona Medina, his brother-in-law Pete Medina and by literally more than 100 nephews and nieces. Those predeceasing Richard in his immediate family include Refugio and Altagracia Casillas, Jose Ibarra (brother), Benjamin Ibarra (brother) and Maria Ibarra (sister).
A celebration of Life with military honors will be Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, 11 a.m. Requiem Mass - Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 7595 Federal Blvd, Westminster, Colorado, with Father Carlos W. Bello-Ayala officiating. All are invited to a reception and lunch to follow: Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant, 8050 Federal Blvd, Westminster, Colorado. (Floral arrangements should be sent directly to the church office, 3050 W. 76th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80030. It is asked that deliveries be scheduled to arrive the morning of the funeral mass.
Final service and interment will be at Boot Hill Cemetery in Hartville, Wyoming in the spring 2025.
