Yvonne Rae Kueffer Lucero

Yvonne Kueffer Lucero

March 6, 1932 – November 13, 2018

Yvonne Kueffer Lucero was born in Garden City, Kansas, to G.R. and Martha Kueffer.  Her family moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico in the 1930s, where her father was a prominent building contractor. Yvonne attended Las Vegas High School and N.M. Highlands University. She and her husband, J. Carlos Lucero, also of Las Vegas, were married in 1948. They lived in Albuquerque in the 1950s; Colorado in the 60s and 70s; and Idaho in the 80s and 90s. They remained a loving married couple for 70 years. Those years included entrepreneurial ventures, commitment to numerous educational, civic, political, and church endeavors; all while raising a family of five children.  Yvonne was successful at whatever she undertook throughout her life. She excelled in several government and corporate positions including the Atomic Energy Commission, Albuquerque, NM; The Nat’l Bureau of Standards, Boulder, CO; IBM, Boulder, CO; and EG&G Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID.  Yvonne was an astute investor and entrepreneur. She founded Lucero Computer Products (LCP), a multi-million dollar company that conducted business throughout the U.S.  LCP was cited by IBM Corporation and HP Computer Company as one of their Top Resellers. Yvonne was honored by Idaho State University for her financial contributions and for providing student scholarships through the G.I. Forum. She received two prestigious awards from the U.S. Business Administration for Outstanding Small Business for the State of Idaho, and the Northwest Region of the U.S. LCP Colorado was ranked third largest minority owned business among the top fifty in the state.  Additionally, she was a recipient of the Top 100 Hispanic Owned Businesses in U.S. by the Hispanic Business Magazine.  In 1997, Yvonne sold her company and she and Carlos retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Yvonne took abundant pride in serving in communities, wherever she lived, exemplified by her work with Chambers of Commerce, Corporate and Charitable Boards. Service to church gave her joy and purpose, particularly her committee involvement at St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Albuquerque.  One of Yvonne’s great pleasures was her love of travel.  Her travels took her to most of Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. Her favorite countries were Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland (home of her ancestors). Yvonne and Carlos especially enjoyed their extensive train trips such as the Orient Express and Trans Canada.

Yvonne is survived by her husband, J. Carlos Lucero; her children, Carla Denerstein (Alex), Pamela Lucero (Percy A Morehouse, Jr), Aileen Lucero (George Rivera, Jr), Garth Lucero (Nancy), Darlene Rodriguez (Paul); brothers, Robert Kueffer (Sherri), Charles Kueffer (Antonia); sister, Kathy Welborn (Dave); grandchildren, Max Denerstein, Raquel Walstad, Renee Stevens; great-grandchildren, Josephine and Evelyn Walstad; and many extended family members. Yvonne was predeceased by her parents, G.R. and Martha Kueffer; sisters Patricia Moore, Barbara Wheelock (John), and Sherry Stoddard.

Rosary will be recited Monday, December 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 4831 Tramway Ridge Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.