John Fresquez

John Fresquez

John was born in Brighton, Colorado on June 2, 1943. He was the 6th child of 10 siblings born to Antonia and Rosendo Fresquez. His brothers and sisters are Beatrice, Frances, Joseph, Ernie, Patsy, Elaine, Gilbert, Bobby and Marie. John graduated from Brighton High School in 1961.

After high school, John married Ellen Coleman and they had three sons, Tony, Chris and James.

John worked at a couple of different jobs out of high school before finding his calling selling cars. This was John’s true passion. He worked at a couple of dealerships before owning his own car lot, L & L Auto Sales, on Main Street in Brighton. He evolved his business into the wholesale side of selling cars. John enjoyed many friendships he made in the business. He loved going to the Denver Auto Auction as well as others located out of state. Most everyone in the business knew John and L & L Auto Sales.

In 1979, he met Linda DeLay and started a new chapter in his life. He continued his passion in the car business. “Big” John as we called him because of Linda’s son, also named Jon, loved to dance and never turned down a chance to cut a rug at any opportunity. John loved spending time with family and friends. He was an avid reader, especially of books by John Grisham. He also liked to try his luck at the blackjack table. Later in life, “Papa’s” passion turned to taking his grandkids to and from school. His other passion was music and he was always singing songs with the grandkids as he was driving them around to and from school. “Papa” was always the first person anyone called when they needed anything pertaining to a car; maybe it was borrowing one, needing help in getting car repairs, or maybe just a ride somewhere. Papa always came through and did it with a smile on his face and love in his heart.

John is survived by his siblings, Beatrice, Frances, Patsy, Elaine, Gilbert, Bobby and Marie; along with his sons Anthony “Tony” Fresquez, John “Chris” Fresquez, James “Jamie” (Heidi) Fresquez and his five grandchildren, Keith, Sara, Nicole, Dustyn and Meghan and three great grandchildren, Carlos, Isabela Rose, and Alexander and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his life partner of 44 years, Linda DeLay, and her sons Don (Michelle) DeLay; Jon DeLay, along with grandchildren, Haile Manzanares, Ryan (Brittany) DeLay, Erin (Broc) Willems, Joey DeLay, Brandon DeLay, Leslie DeLay, Madison DeLay, McKenna DeLay, Cole Thomas,Trey DeLay; great grandchildren; Jaxson, Journee, Jordyn, Harper, Jadace, Jett and Layla. He is preceded in death by both of his parents; brothers Ernie and Joseph and step-son, Tim DeLay.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any contributions be made in John’s memory to the American Heart Association.

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