NEW BUSINESS TO SERVE Custer County
Greenstreet Plumbing Services

by Fred Hernandez

Plumbing is simply the transportation of water, liquids from one place to another. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention. Thousands of years ago man created the beginnings of plumbing as we know it today. We can trace its history back to the ancient civilizations of the Greeks, the Romans, Egyptians, Persians and Chinese to name a few. Egyptians for example were among the first to utilize irrigation in farming. They also began drainage systems and even invented the water wheel.
The Minoan Palace in Crete which dates back to 4,000 BCE is the oldest known structure which used conical-shaped terracotta pipes to distribute water. The Greeks were arguably the first to devise the system for hot and cold running water for the benefit of their athletes. Romans built aqueducts to transport water from the mountains to the cities to provide potable water and for their public baths. Mesopotamians used clay pipes four thousand years ago. The root word from which plumbing is derived is plumbum the Latin word for lead from which much of the ancient pipes were made. Plumbing is one of the oldest professions of man. A most important cornerstone of any civilized society.
Here in our county we have the benefit of having one of the most experienced professionals in the industry, Chris Greenstreet, who comes from a long, long line of professional plumbers. While his company was officially formalized not too long ago, Chris, as the owner/ operator, has a lifetime of extensive training and experience. Born in Salida in 1981 he was the oldest of three children to a coal miner who worked the mines in Leadville. After his time at the mines his father worked for a big plumbing company based in Denver. Later he started his own successful company and the family moved to Cañon. Chris attended the high school in Westcliffe and graduated from Custer County High School.
After that his training and work experience can only be described as boundless. Starting with his apprenticeship application with U.S. Engineering at which his test scores ranked him number two but unfortunately 9/11 happened at the time and he was unable to pursue that opportunity. One who is not easily deterred he applied in several other big companies but was only able to snag a job as a tinner which is one who fabricates sheet metal. This talent served him well later in his career. He was the fastest worker in the company and outdistanced everyone on any job needed. Over the years he went on to work for big companies including R.K Mechanical and Cobb Mechanical which had contracts with the State building large prisons. In fact it was in one of those huge projects that he got his AHA! moment. It was in 2009, and the project was a prison in Cañon City. He was with the foreman, and they were waiting for the superintendent to go over the blueprints. Chris read the prints and did all the measurements on a four thousand square foot project before the supervisor came in and at that moment, he realized he was way ahead of the game and all his training had paid off. Some of the other big jobs included Fort Carson and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where he worked on the elephant and lion exhibits. After a time working with the big companies his father needed some help so he went to work for his Dad. After his father passed away Chris went on his own. Today with a Masters License, Bonded and fully insured Chris is in business to serve his community. He is a patient man who listens carefully to his clients. In fact he treats clients like old friends. A critical thinker, he takes the time to explain in detail so the client is fully informed of the work at hand. This is my community Chris says, and I am not motivated solely by money but by the good service I can provide to ensure the full satisfaction of my clients. His intention is to create long-term relationships. A professional like Chris is most welcome in any community.
Chris can be reached at (719) 783- 2800 or email him at Greenstreetplumbing@gmail.com

Obituary

Jerald Estis

What a grand exit he made leaving no doubt as to where he was going… straight into the arms of Jesus!

2 Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Jerald Marvin Estis was born in Jane, Missouri, on October 18, 1934, to Erma Aline Reed Estis and Cleo Warner Estis. He was their firstborn son.
In the spring of 1936, Jerry and his parents moved from Joplin, Missouri, to the Estis Ranch on Waugh Mountain, which is 16 miles north of Cotopaxi. He lived on the ranch with his parents and brother Tom until 1949 when the family moved to Cotopaxi, into the home they had built close to town so he and his brother could attend Cotopaxi School. He attended Cotopaxi School from first through12th grade and as a sophomore in high school he became a board member for the Cotopaxi Church where he served as a deacon from 1950 to 2010. In 1952, he began work for Fremont County Road and Bridge crew for three years, until he was called to the Army in 1955 by Uncle Sam in the draft.
While in the Army, Jerry served two years, mostly stationed in Germany, where he was part of the American Rifle Team. Jerry was an excellent marksman and in the world competition, he and his team won the World Championship against all NATO countries
– Go USA!
After his discharge from the Army, Jerry returned to Cotopaxi where he resumed his service on the Cotopaxi Church board and his job with the Fremont Road and Bridge, which was held for him, during his service away. In 1960, he married the love of his life, Sharon Church, with whom he had three daughters, Twila (Darell Geroux), Toloa (Jerry Pearl), and Treva (Willie Dominguez), which led to nine beautiful smart grandkids and 20 great grandkids.

In 1963, he began work with the Colorado state highway system, maintaining West Highway 50 for 25 years until his medical retirement due to wounds received in a motorcycle accident. On August 1, 1985, at the age of 50, his life took a sudden turn when he and Sharon, were struck by an oncoming vehicle while returning from vacation on their motorcycle. Due to the wounds he sustained in the accident, he was forced into medical retirement. His remaining years, from age 50 – 90, were spent living with and overcoming the injuries that occurred during that accident.
In addition to his primary employment, he was an expert carpenter, crafting custom homes, custom furniture, and personalized cabinetry after hours and on weekends. He enjoyed crafting unique items for his grandchildren such as wooden knives, slingshots, ping pong ball guns and the like. He enjoyed reloading ammo, driving fast cars, hunting, attending auctions, and he was a connoisseur of good food, particularly favoring sirloin steak. In addition to the church board, his service to the community included two terms on the Cotopaxi School board and 10 times on the election board for the Sangre de Cristo Electric Coop. He remained a member of Cotopaxi Church until he passed on December 14, 2024.

Jerry made many important decisions, but the most significant decision of his life was welcoming Jesus into his heart at an early age thus setting the stage for lifelong service to Jesus Christ. His second most important decision was his marriage to Sharon, the love of his life, and service to his family. His family was his treasure; he often declared himself the richest man on earth, “richer than Elon Musk” he would say, valuing his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Above all, he prayed fervently for the salvation of each family member, focusing on eternal life with Jesus as the ultimate goal. Jerry was the epitome of kindness, strength, and moral character and integrity, always leading by example rather than words.

Jerry quoted this scripture often: Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” 

The 40 years following his motorcycle accident were physically and mentally trying, to say the least. He lived in constant pain and struggle and without his faith in God and the constant service and excellent care of his wife Sharon, the difficulties would have been impossible and would have taken a lesser man out many times. Although his physical life in his later years was defined by the physical difficulties he endured, his spiritual and emotional life was enriched daily by his family and friends. He loved the visits from friends, who stopped in daily for long conversations and to assist with simple tasks around his home. He loved telling stories of life on his ranch and life with his wife, kids and grandkids, often bragging, like a grandpa can, on the exploits and shenanigans of his grandkids.

A poem by Robert W. Service, that his mama taught him as a young boy, and that he quoted as a young man became the defining character in his life, even to the day of his death. The poem is as follows:….

The Quitter
When you’re lost in the wild and you’re scared as a child, And Death looks you bang in the eye, And you’re sore as a boil, it’s according to Hoyle To cock your revolver and die.
But the code of a man says: “fight all you can,” And self-dissolution is barred. In hunger and woe, oh, it’s easy to blow, It’s the Hell-served-for-breakfast that’s hard.
“You’re sick of the game ! ” Well, now, that’s a shame, You’re young and you’re brave and you’re bright. “You’ve had a raw deal!”
I know – But don’t squeal, Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight!
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day, So don’t be a piker, Old Pard! Just draw on your grit, it’s so easy to quit, It’s the keeping your chin up that’s hard!
It’s easy to cry that you’re beaten
and die, It’s easy to crayfish and crawl, But to fight and to fight
when hope’s out of sight —
Why that’s the best game of them all.
And though you came out of each grueling bout, All broken and beaten and scarred, Just have one more try – it’s dead easy to die, It’s the keeping on living that’s hard.
— Robert W. Service

Jerry’s life was a testament to perseverance, faith and love, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and deep familial bonds.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 20th at 11 a.m. at the Cotopaxi Church. Post-service there will be a Graveside Service with Military Honor Guard Salute, followed by lunch served back at the Cotopaxi Church.