- Date Of Birth: August 15, 1937
- Date Of Death: June 6, 2017
- State: Colorado
John “Sonny” DeLeon John DeLeon, a friend of children and animals, an original Broncomaniac, and loving patriarch of a large Denver family, died June 6. He was 79. He was born Aug. 15, 1937, to John L. and Lucy DeLeon. John, who was known to family as Sonny, was the oldest of their four boys and grew up in the blue-collar neighborhood that is now the Auraria Higher Education Campus. He attended Denver Catholic schools, graduating from Cathedral High School. He attended Regis College. In the Denver Broncos’ early years, John and a group of friends bought a block of season tickets in the rowdy South Stands of the original Mile High Stadium. The group stayed together for decades, moving to the 50-yard-line of the thunderous East Stands and later to the new stadium. The lifelong friends cheered the Broncos through thick and thin and traveled to two of their Super Bowl appearances. John worked in the circulation department at The Denver Post for 37 years, retiring in 1999 as a district manager, driving the dark Denver streets, dropping bundles of papers throughout the city. He supervised hundreds of newspaper carriers over the years, and many would recognize him later and thank him for his early guidance. He married Frances Tanksley Krizman in 1984, acquiring six step-children who he helped raise as his own. He was a favorite uncle to ten nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He helped spoil eight grandchildren. John was a quiet observer of the world around him and provided strength and love to many during times of trouble. He maintained his optimism and humor through years of treatment for kidney disease. John was preceded in death by two younger brothers, James and Anthony, and by his step-daughter, Tami Krizman. He is survived by his wife; his youngest brother, Rodney (Cindy) DeLeon; by his sister-in-law Joanne DeLeon; by his step-children Steve (Karen), Teresa, Ken (Debbie), Mark (Stacey), and Andrew (Chris) Krizman; grandchildren Casey, Bernadette, Jeromy, Robert, Cody, Kai, Tyler, and Brielle Krizman; nephews Eric, Damon (Jasmine), Derrick, and Zachary DeLeon; grand-nephew Braiden DeLeon, and grand-nieces Olivia, Adriana, Nyellie and Meyela DeLeon.
