Frank "Poncho" DeLeon Jr.

Frank “Poncho” DeLeon Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on August 22, 2026, at the age of 93, surrounded by the family he loved.

Born June 6, 1933, in Cheraw, Colorado, Frank was the eldest son of Frank and Mildred DeLeon and grew up in a large, hardworking family of 13 children in West Denver. From an early age, Frank became known as a steady, generous, and loving presence in his family—a role he would carry throughout his life.

Frank served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955 as a cook, attaining the rank of Sergeant (T). He received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, and especially enjoyed his time in Japan. He later spent 36 years working for the federal government, including as a cook at Lowry Air Force Base and Fitzsimons Medical Center and eventually as manager of the Fitzsimons Commissary.

While Frank was proud of his work, his greatest joys were found outside of it. He loved his beans and chile, smoking Camels with no filter, listening to the Mexican radio station on Sundays, coffee, sports, camping, fishing, traveling, and dancing. He played softball throughout his life and continued playing with the Old Timers senior league well into his 80s. He was also a stylish man, even in athletic wear, and had a signature shoulder dance, passed down from his father and shared among the DeLeon brothers.

Frank was married to Esther (Archuleta, DeLeon) Lewis for approximately 20 years, and together they raised four children. Although their marriage eventually ended, Frank and Esther remained friends and continued to treat one another with kindness and respect throughout the years. When Esther passed away unexpectedly, Frank and Sue supported the family and helped with the arrangements. Esther remained an important part of Frank’s family story and the mother of his children.

In 1976, Frank met Sue, beginning a partnership that would last nearly 50 years. They married on December 16, 1983. Sue brought an adventurous, playful spirit to Frank’s calm and gentle nature, and together they built a life filled with camping, fishing, road trips, travel, laughter, and family. Frank adored his “Susie,” and Sue devotedly cared for him throughout their life together.

Through Sue, Frank became part of the Magelky family of North Dakota, who welcomed him with open arms in 1977 and came to love him as one of their own. He cherished the family reunions, fishing trips to Canada, Perkins breakfasts, Black Hills adventures, Colorado road trips, and countless family memories made over the decades.

Frank was a loving grandfather. He was always there for his grandchildren—picking them up from school, attending their sporting events and activities, welcoming them for sleepovers, taking them camping and fishing, and never saying “no” to a trip to the McDonald’s drive-thru. One of the great gifts Frank gave his grandchildren was the gift of Sue as their grandmother. Together, Frank and Sue created a home that was welcoming, fun, and full of love. Frank was generous not only with his time and attention, but throughout his life with whatever resources he had to help the people he loved.

His family will remember his warmth and his easy laughter as much as anything else. When he would call on the phone, Frank would enthusiastically call out your name, followed by his unmistakable chuckle, then say, “It’s Grandpa,” followed by another laugh. That laughter was Frank: warm, joyful, and full of love.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sue DeLeon; his children, Frank Dennis DeLeon (Armanda), Debra “Debbie” Valverde (Mario), and Dino DeLeon (Andrea); his daughter-in-law, Lita DeLeon, wife of his late son Randy DeLeon; his grandchildren, Charmaine DeLeon, Franklin “Desi” DeLeon, Michael Trujillo, Jessie DeLeon, Maria DeLeon, Cesar DeLeon, Mario Valverde, Gia Valverde, Kali DeLeon, Alyssa DeLeon, and Daniel “Dino” DeLeon; his siblings, Dave DeLeon, Loretta Ramirez, Gloria DeLeon, and Alfred DeLeon; 10 great-grandchildren; and Sue’s siblings and their families, including Carol Terry (Harold), Doug Magelky (Chris), Rod Magelky (Sandy), Peter Magelky (Shelley), Sherry Ackerman, Ann Haugarth (Dave), and sister-in-law Ann Magelky. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mildred DeLeon; his siblings, Ben DeLeon, Mary Lou McClure, Ralph DeLeon, Richard DeLeon, Gerald DeLeon, Betty Dressler, Melvin DeLeon, Victor DeLeon, and; his son, Randy DeLeon; his son-in-law, Mario Valverde; his father-in-law, Donald Jacob Magelky; his mother-in-law, Dorothy A. Magelky; and his brother-in-law, Robert J. Magelky.

Frank spent his final week at home in hospice care, surrounded by Sue and family. Even in his later years, when his mobility and hearing had become more difficult, his mind remained sharp and his sense of humor intact. He loved his coffee, his dog Oliver, his dinner at 5 p.m., watching sports, chatting with family, and making jokes about getting old.

Frank lived 93 years, but his legacy will be measured in something much greater than years. It lives in the family he cared for, the grandchildren he adored, the friendships and extended family he embraced, the stories that will be told for years to come, and the laughter that will always remind those who loved him of the man they called Poncho.

He will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Services celebrating Frank’s life will be held on September 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Newcomer West Metro Chapel, 901 S. Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80226. Services will conclude at the chapel.