Bronson Carl Cruz was born on May 15, 1968, in Walsenburg, Colorado, to Edward and Dorothy Cruz. His fatherʼs family had first come to the Centennial State in 1864, and his motherʼs family in 1867. He attended St. Maryʼs School in his hometown until 1982, when he graduated and went on to Trinidad Catholic High School. Bronson did well there academically, and made many good friends, and was one of the stars of the Tigers basketball team. After graduating in 1986, he studied Fine Arts at the University of Denver for three years. He married Kimberly Shore of Sturgis, South Dakota in 1993 and the couple had two children, Heaven and Bradley. Bronson worked at a variety of jobs throughout his life: portrait artist, muralist, house painter, gardener, plumber, and electrician. He hosted an informal cat shelter at his house and over the years rescued over 60 stray cats and gave them a loving home. Bronson made friends everywhere he went and brought sunshine into every life he touched. He greatly enjoyed teaching Bible classes and teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants. A devout Catholic who loved Our Blessed Mother and Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, he was a long-time member of St. Josephʼs Church in Pueblo, Colorado. Bronson was also a lay member of the Confraternity of the Passion. He was a life-long fan of the Denver Nuggets and the Denver Broncos. For the last eight years of his life Bronson struggled with an inoperable brain tumor, but he bore his sufferings with patience and grace. He passed away at St. Anthonyʼs Hospital in Denver on November 10, 2022. Bronson was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Brad. He is survived by his brothers, Bryon Cruz and Brent Cruz, his ex-wife, Kim, his son, Bradley (Jordan) Cruz Shore, his daughter, Heaven (Andrew) Butchart, and three grandchildren, Jackson, Sawyer, and Killian Butchart. He also leaves behind several dear cousins and numerous good friends who will miss him greatly, as well as his belove
