Ruben Joe Maestas Sr.

Ruben Joe Maestas Sr. of Mancos died at his home on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the age of 89. He was born in 1937 in San Pedro, Colorado, and grew up in the San Luis Valley.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957 and married Frances Martinez at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Mancos in 1958. The family lived in Denver for ten years before returning to Mancos, where he opened Ruben’s Corner, a business that housed a beauty salon, a laundromat, a dry cleaners and a restaurant. He worked as a logger, on oil rigs and at the local match factory, and owned the Columbine Bar before retiring. He was a member of the Catholic church. He is survived by Frances, his wife of 68 years.

A rosary will be said Tuesday, October 20 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, 203 S. Main St., Mancos, followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Ertel Funeral Home.

The full obituary is at Ertel Funeral Home.