Connie was born in Greeley, Colorado but was raised in a small town (Gilcrest) five miles from Bob’s family farm. Bob and Connie knew each other during High School and just celebrated 52 years of marriage in February, 2024. Early on in their marriage, Connie worked various jobs, including a few years working at BNSF Railroad before deciding to be a “stay at home mom” to care for their two awesome kids. These kids are now adults who have made them proud grandparents of seven awesome, beautiful and loving grandchildren, several of whom are currently attending or have attended Pius X.
During their career with BNSF Railway, Bob and Connie relocated to several states within the railroad network and were active parishioners. Upon moving to Lincoln, Nebraska (1991) they searched for a Hispanic parish with the same type of opportunities to experience and share their culture through their Catholic faith. They found that community at Sacred Heart Parish, which had a Spanish speaking Mass every Sunday. While at Sacred Heart, they were both involved with parish life as Connie was a bi-lingual Lector and Bob helped celebrate the noon Mass. In 1993, they coordinated a Spanish Youth Group, taking them to see/hear Pope John Paul II at the “World Youth Day” in Denver, Colorado.
Connie and Bob have been parishioners of Cristo Rey since its beginning. They have been involved in various functions to include the parish’s biggest fundraiser, the “Kermes” (Spanish Festival). Within a few years living in Lincoln Connie became a member of the Diocesan Evangelization committee. She headed up a subcommittee of that group establishing the “Catholic Informational” booth at the Nebraska State fair when it was still in Lincoln.
Connie has served as a volunteer counselor at “Birthright” (pregnancy help center) and is currently a member of its Board of Directors. She is the leader of the Pro-life Committee at Cristo Rey and has walked the yearly “Pro- life Walk” every January for the majority of the time they lived in Nebraska. Connie has been involved with the Pro-life movement and served on the Yearly Pro-life Conference Committee through the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Lincoln Right to Life, and Nebraska Right to Life. Connie has also been involved with the “Seven Sisters Apostolate” since its conception in Nebraska. She established the very first group in Nebraska at Cristo Rey, where there are currently three complete groups under her leadership. She is also a current member of the “Diocesan Divine Will Core Study” group.
Bob was born in Denver, CO and raised on his dad’s farm in north central Colorado. He is grateful and proud to have worked the bean and beet fields of Colorado which formed, in him, a solid work ethic and a strong sense of patriotism. After graduating from Valley High School (Gilcrest, CO) in 1969, he enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed in Fulda, Germany, assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment until he was honorably discharged in 1973. Immediately after his discharge, Bob was hired as a Telegrapher with the Colorado & Southern (C&S) Railroad out of Denver. The C&S merged with the Burlington Northern (BN) and later the BN merged with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) to become the BNSF Railroad, as it is known today. Bob worked a total of 43 years with the railroads, both as an active employee and as a consultant. Bob took early retirement in 2011 with his last job assignment, as an active employee, as the Executive Director of Government Affairs for the states of Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Bob earned an Associate of Arts degree from Denver Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Denver Campus. He was a former Chairman of the Nebraska Mexican American Commission (Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans), and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska. He is currently a Trustee/Acolyte for Cristo Rey Parish and a member of the parish Finance Committee. In retirement, Bob enjoys raising/training/riding Cutting Horses on his and Connie’s horse ranch (Ganas Ranch) just outside of Raymond, which they established in 1991. They are both “Life” members of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), members of the American Quarter Horse Associate (AQHA), and the Cutting Horse Association of Nebraska (CHAN).
Bob and Connie are proud to have been raised in “small town USA” where they both came from humble beginnings that instilled in them the appreciation of living in such a country where opportunities are not “given” but are “earned.” Where honest small-town values such as faith in God, love of family, and love of country are learned at an early age. Where they learned that there is dignity in every type of job as long as it’s an honest means of earning a living. They believe that “regardless of your background you can reach your goals if you have the ‘GANAS’ (Spanish word for ‘Desire’) to ‘TRY.’ No one is given a ‘free ride’ in this life, you have to put in the sweat if you sincerely want to succeed.”
“The Lord has blessed us and our family over these many years and for this we are truly grateful. At one time in our life we did not have two nickels to rub together, so we know how difficult it is to make ends meet and still have funds to send one’s children to a Catholic based private school. We believe a Catholic based education establishes the moral foundation that will guide young people throughout their life. We are grateful for being allowed to help, even in a minute way, in that regard. Life is a tough road, but it’s easier to get through it when you have faith in the Lord and share whatever blessings the Lord has given you, with those who may need a leg up during challenging moments as we each travel through our Life’s journey.”
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) To God be the Glory!
