Dennis Lettig

Dennis Lettig was born in his beloved Alamosa, Colorado to Joe Lettig and Connie Eddy. They, along with the following siblings, all preceded Dennis in death: his sister Charlene Lettig and his two brothers, Joseph Lettig and Frank Espinosa. He is survived by his sister JoAnn Lettig of Arizona. 

Dennis served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1976 to 1980. He also served two years in the National Guard. He often spoke fondly of the time he spent in Hawaii while on active duty and was a proud Army veteran.

 Anyone who knew Dennis Lettig knows that he was quick to start up a conversation, whether it was about his favorite Denver Broncos or the latest news report. He was always willing to converse, as the resident expert, on any subject, with any random stranger, in any venue. He was just as quick to pop off a bad dad joke or spout some bit of useless information that he picked up on Jeopardy. If someone were to capture Dennis in just a few words, they would say of him that he was a fierce friend, a supporting dad, a committed volunteer, a social activist, a caring brother, and most of all, a loving husband. Dennis met the love of his life, Aurora Dori Gil, in the summer of 1981. That summer would be a turning point in Dennis’ life. Though he had many adventures prior to meeting her, they would all pale in comparison to finding the person he would spend the rest of his life with. The happy couple was married in the summer of 1988. They started their life together in Redlands, California, where they would reside and raise a family. In January of 1996, they had their son Gil Joseph Lettig, and the three of them would journey together for the rest of his life. 

If you asked people about Dennis Lettig, most of them would respond similarly, he’s a great guy, a generous uncle, a reliable friend, and a fighter for those in need. Though Dennis shied away from the limelight, he could often be found working in the background on social issues that affected the community and the less fortunate. Whether it was distributing Christmas baskets to the needy or setting up a venue to recognize local leaders, he could always be counted on to support the cause. 

Dennis succumbed to his illness after only a few short months, but we cannot allow his illness to define him. Dennis was so much more than the illness that took him. He was loved by so many family members and friends. He will be missed for his humor, his love of family, his relentless teasing of winning and losing seasons of your favorite team, and his dedication to making every day a little bit better for those he loved.

 Rest in Peace Dennis Lettig, you will be missed.