Gary Pehanich, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed away on February 3, 2018 at home with his wife and children at his side after a long, valiant battle with lung cancer. He was 59 years old. Gary was born in Northridge, California on February 23,1958 to Stephen Paul and Gloria Ann (Maglieri) Pehanich. He grew up in Canoga Park on a cul de sac with 3 siblings, Steven, Christina (Deaton) and Angela (Hauser) along with his Uncle (Jim), Aunt (Janet) and cousins (Jim, Vince, Greg, Robert, Gary, Mathew and Janet Lynn) and his grandparents James and Christina Paone. He attended Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Grade School and Crespi Carmelite High School. HIs athleticism became evident as he played on the football, baseball, basketball and track teams. Upon graduation from high school in 1976, he became an ironworker (rod buster) building pools for Montegna Steel under the tutelage of his cousin Jon Montegna. He joined the California Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 416 in 1982 as he continued his career and became a master at his trade, becoming known far and wide as “Geeko”. He married his high school sweetheart, Kathy Luke, June 10, 1978, after meeting on a blind double date with his best friend Jeff Schieffer and Maryann Costanzo (Horak) the summer of 1974. Gary and Kathy raised their family in Palmdale, California and had 3 children, Jennifer (Phil) Celardo, Joseph (Lauryn) Pehanich, and Melissa (Andrew) Faron and grand children Katelyn, Gianna, and David Celardo and Creedence Pehanich who’re the light of his life. Gary and Kathy moved to Broomfield, Colorado in June 2006 where Gary started to work for Davis JD steel, building relationships with new ironworker brothers, traveling the nation and sharing his knowledge and expertise within his trade. He retired in 2014. Gary loved spending time with family at his 2nd home in Grand Lake, Colorado. He loved lure fishing and became widely known as the Fish Whisperer for his prowess with a pole. He had a love of food, especially coffee, Giordano’s Pizza, Tommy’s, In n Out, hot fudge sundaes, softserve ice cream, an assortment of candy bars and tootsie rolls. He is preceded in death by his grandparents James and Christina Paone, father Stephen Paul Pehanich, sister Christina Marie Deaton, and cousin Robert Svolos. He is survived by his wife Kathy, children Jennifer (Phil), Joseph (Lauryn) and Melissa (Andrew) and grandchildren Katelyn, Gianna, David and Creedence.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church in Broomfield, Colorado. A rosary will be said at 9:00 am and funeral mass will be held at 9:30 am with a reception immediately following in the church community center. Private burial for family will be held at Broomfield Commons Cemetery.

If preferred, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gary’s name to lung cancer research. Gary’s family is so grateful for the phenomenal care his health care team provided. His renowned oncologist, Ross Camidge, MD, heads the lung cancer research at University of Colorado, Denver Anschutz Cancer Center. Donation link is www.ucdenver.edu/lccf. Flowers may be sent to Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church 900 W Midway Blvd., Broomfield, Co. 80020 on 2/23/18 Friday afternoon. Online condolences may be left at www.Rundus.com.