Amarante Joe Cortez Jr.

Amarante J. Cortez, Jr., of Denver, peacefully passed away Monday August 4, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 91.

He was born to Amarante J. Cortez, Sr., and Josephine Martinez Cortez on November 19, 1933, in Costilla, N.M. He married Rose Cordova in 1954. They lived in Pueblo, CO; Los Angeles, CA; and Denver, CO during their marriage of 71 years.

Amarante was also known as “Joe” and “Jr.” He was a structural steel worker who retired from Gates Rubber Company in 1995. He came out of retirement briefly to work in the country of Brazil for a U.S. aluminum company. He picked up much of the Portugues language easily and was also fluent in Spanish and English.

He loved to fish, hunt, read and spend time in his ancestorial home of Costilla. Costilla was his spot of heaven on earth and will always be where his spirit can be felt.

Amarante is survived by his loving wife Rose and three adult children: Patricia “Pat” (Manuel Martinez) Cortez, Caroline Cortez (Anthony) Acosta, and Angela Cortez, all of Denver. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Jovan Muniz, Chantelle Romero, and Devin (Lindsay) Muniz; his sisters Eulalia Aragon and Nora Martinez; and brother Leroy (Beverly) Cortez; as well as four great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and close friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Santiago “Jim” and Orlando.

Services will be held at All Saints Catholic Church, 2559 S. Federal Blvd. in Denver, Thursday August 28 at 10 a.m. The praying of the Rosery will be held at 9:30 a.m. on the same day at the above location.