Arnulfo Bolaños-Mateo (El Paisa)

Arnulfo Bolaños-Mateo (El Paisa), 76, of Center, Colo., was born on Sept. 8, 1946, in Los Angeles, Michoacan, Mexico, and passed away on April 21, 2023, in Colorado Springs surrounded by his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fidel Bolaños and Guadalupe Mateo. He was the third out of 14 children, which include four that are still living — Margarita, Veronica, Carmen, and Cleotilde.

Since he was young, he was a hard-working man, working with his dad in the sugarcane fields. When he moved to Center, Colo., he worked in fields and potato warehouses.

He was known for his gardens and took pride in his yard. One of the things he loved doing was watching his two sons play soccer, he would even have celebrations in his yard after the soccer season was over.

His wife and four kids will always remember when he would take them to La Garita and they would spend all day enjoying being in the mountains.

His entire family will never forget his sense of humor. He always knew how to put smiles on their faces even up to the end.

He is survived by his loving wife Elvia Bolaños of Center, Colo., and his four children Armando and wife Crystal from Monte Vista, Rafael and wife Marisol from Monte Vista, Maria and husband Sergio from Denver and daughter Guadalupe from Center. He also has many grandchildren which include Victoria, Armando Jr., Rafael, Gerardo, Omar, Carmen, Isabel, Soledad, Sergio Jr., Raquel, Adela, Joaquin, and Gabriel.

Rosary will be Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 7 p.m., at St. Francis Jerome Catholic Church in Center, Colo., and Mass will be Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St Francis Jerome Catholic Church in Center, Colo. Funeral arrangements in care of Strohmayer’s Funeral Home.