Donald Raymond Maestas Sr.

Born to John and Phyliss Maestas in Denver, Colorado, Donald passed away peacefully at his home of 50 years, just as he had always wanted.

Donald is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, Peggy Jo Maestas; his three children and their spouses, Donald Jr. and Suwattana “Na” Maestas, Jesse Maestas, and Lisa Maestas and Tommy Garrett; and his two grandchildren, Kristopher Maestas and Sophia Maestas. He is also survived by his sister in-law, Leona Fortune; her daughter Tammy Fortune; and her son Brian Fortune and his wife Gayle. He also leaves behind many other loved ones and friends.

Donald loved talking to people and was never afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger. He loved to be around people but was quick to head home from a party or retire to his room when he was ready to move on to something else or grew bored of the conversation. He was a constant trickster who would sometimes do things like hiding your keys if you left them out or moving your purse when you weren’t looking. He liked to remind those around him not to take life too seriously. You always knew if Donald was in the room and his presence was noticed when it wasn’t.

Although Donald came from humble beginnings, he was determined to build a comfortable and secure life for himself and his family through hard work. From his first job shining shoes as a young boy, to selling shoes and operating a press brake at a machine shop, he always took work seriously. He retired after many years of service with the City and County of Denver. Always working, he constantly had some sort of side venture to occupy his time and provide more for his family. These included some serious yard sales, selling T-shirts and other Broncos memorabilia when they were Super Bowl bound, and numerous other odd jobs.

Donald had a true love for art and spent many days in museums and galleries. His love of collecting resulted in paintings that, at one point, covered almost every square inch of wall space in the house. His true passion, though, was Navajo weavings. He loved their history and the stories each piece held: how it was woven, why it had a particular design, and how many people had seen, felt, and used it. He used this passion and his natural charisma to buy and sell many wonderful pieces. He once said that he had owned some of the finest pieces in the world, if only for a couple of hours.

As he got older, he shifted his focus to buying, selling, and sometimes making jewelry. He said it kept him busy and that he enjoyed making someone happy with a bracelet or necklace he had made with beads, or a ring, pair of earrings, or charm he had cleaned up or repaired. He was especially proud of keeping his prices low so that as many people as possible could afford to treat themselves without having to save up too long. It wasn’t just about money; it was about creating connection and happiness.

When he was young, Donald was a boxer. He carried that passion with him as he got older, watching boxing matches and following the up-and-coming boxers. He also enjoyed watching football and was optimistic that the Denver Broncos could “go all the way.” Sometimes he became so involved in the games that he would turn them off before he got too anxious. But at the end of the day, he didn’t care who won or lost. His optimism reflected his own desire to see the best possible outcome, even when it seemed unlikely. He always kept himself busy.

He never liked flashy things, except perhaps a gold or turquoise necklace or two. He didn’t drive an expensive car or like to go to fancy restaurants. His favorite foods were hamburgers, chili dogs with lots of onions, fried eggs, meatloaf, potato salad, or a simple bowl of soup. He drank coffee like it was going out of style and loved an afternoon snack, especially something sweet like a donut, muffin, or Danish. He took pleasure in the simple things and rarely asked for anything special to eat, drink, wear, or do.

He loved his family and would do anything he could to help them. Donald will be missed by many and loved by even more.

“The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by.” ― Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.