Joseph “Joe” Avinicio Rivera II, born April 13, 1965, to the union of Joe Avinicio Rivera and Jo Ann Peralta-Rivera, was wrapped in the arms of our Savior on January 21, 2014.
Joe was born and raised in Colorado Springs. He was well known for the many sports he played, but was best known for his amazing basketball skills which earned him a college scholarship to Trinidad State Junior College and the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo), after graduating from Coronado High School in 1984. Joe was later known to many in the Old Colorado City area for the small business he operated cleaning the windows of many shops along Colorado Avenue and in Manitou Springs. He also worked at Acura, Penkhus, and Phil Long Ford at Motor City where he received several top salesman awards.
To his family and friends Joe was a man of courage. He was high-spirited, smart, creative, open-hearted, and a gentle giant. Joe always took the time to make us laugh and lift our spirits. He had an adventurous, pioneering outlook on life which allowed him to touch the lives of the many people he crossed paths with in our community.
Seeing him off on his journey is his mother, JoAnn Peralta-Templeton; step-father, Dorsey Templeton; sister, TinaMarie Rivera; brother, Gabriel Dmetri Rivera; three nieces; one nephew; and numerous other family members. He was awaited by the spirits of his father; his maternal grandparents, Bernabel Peralta and Andrea E. Vigil; and paternal grandparents, Juan C. Rivera and M. Arcelina Vialpando.
Joe, we love you and will always carry your smile in our hearts.
Joe’s visitation will be held Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 12:00pm followed by a Rosary at 2:30pm at the Shrine of Remembrance on 1730 East Fountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 10:00am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on 1830 South Corona in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.