JoAnn Lucille Lucero

Joanna Lucero, 86, of Denver, died on November 22, 2023, after a fiercely fought battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family and her partner of three decades, Delores Flores( Denver, Co.)

 Born May 9^th 1938, Joanna was Avel and Lucy Lucero’s youngest child in a family of many brothers: She is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Avel ‘Napoleon,’ Michael, and John. She is survived by her cousin John Fajardo (Broomfield, Co.) Goddaughte Kali Fajardo-Anstine  ( Arvada, Co.) and Godson Mark  Fajardo ( Longmont, Co.)In addition, she is survived by a plethora of adoring cousins and countless friends.   

She graduated from West High School in 1957, worked as a   bartender at some of the Metro area's first Lesbian bars and was a frequent contributor to the magazine Lesbians in Colorado. In the 1990s she was extensively interviewed by renowned queer author Katie Gilmartin, who was documenting gay life of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s in Denver.

 From an early age, Joanna showed an interest in mechanics and electronics. This passion propelled her to eventually seek a career as an electrician at Rocky Flats, at a time when very few women and people of color were welcomed into the trades. Joanna carved the way for other women in STEM through her decades in the field and later her advocacy work at Mi Casa Resource Center, where she helped train women seeking to enter similar career paths.

A larger-than-life personality with an unrivaled joie de vivre, Joanna was an avid Broncos Fan, a devotee of heading ‘up the hill’ for video poker, and took great joy from serenading her family & friends with her favorite Sinatra songs. She loved Cher, Betty Boop, classic movies, good jokes, green chili, ancient Egypt, John Wayne, her familia, and God. She will be dearly missed and always loved.

In lieu of flowers: Please remit checks to

Regis University Advancement

Rainbow Manito Scholarship Fund

Att. Roger Smith

3333 Regis Blvd. B-12, Denver, CO 80222