Rapid City – Pat J. Fajardo, Sr., 92, died Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the Golden Living Center of the Black Hills in Rapid City after being hospitalized for gall bladder surgery.

He was born September  9, 1923 in Gallup, New Mexico to Florian and Margueritte Fajardo. His family moved to Denver, Co when he was very young.

He joined the U. S. Navy in April 21, 1943 during World War II. He served on the USS Reno, a light cruiser, in the South Pacific. His ship was hit by a kamikaze plane in one of their gun turrets, and was also torpedoed. He was discharged from the Navy on November 19, 1945. During leave in April of 1945 he came home to Denver to meet the perfect girl his sister kept telling him about. Her name was Mabel Zamora. They met and were married one week later. It lasted for 68 years until her death on November 12, 2013.

Pat and Mabel lived in Denver for three years and then he joined the U.S. Air Force. By that time they had two sons: Pat Jr and Bob. Linda was born in Texas and Fred was born at Clark Air Force Base, P.I. They lived in a number of places before he was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City in October of 1960 and retired in July of 1965.

Pat loved auctions and you could always find him at the front when an auction was going on.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, one sister, two sons: Pat Fajardo Jr in 1972 and Fred Fajardo in 2011 and his wife who he has missed so much, Mabel on November 12, 2013.

Pat is survived by his son Bob [Mary] Fajardo of Northglenn, Co; one daughter Linda [Wes] Fajardo-Boerner of Rapid City; 5 grandsons; 4 granddaughters; 4 great-grandsons; 8 great-granddaughters; 1 great-great grandson; one great-great granddaughter; two sisters: Rosie Mitchell and Betty Kennedy both of Colorado; and numerous cousins.

Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am Tuesday, August 16, 2016 with his funeral service at 10:00 am at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Chief Chaplain [Ret] Herb B. Cleveland officiating.

Burial will be at 12:00 pm noon at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with full military honors.