Col. Joseph N. Wiltgen, USAF, Ret.

Col. Joseph N. Wiltgen, USAF, Ret., 87, father, husband, USAF Veteran, attorney, judge, passed away in his sleep on Monday, February 17, 2020. Joe, known to many as Col. or Judge will be remembered as someone who was always there with a guiding hand. He held four advanced degrees, his BS and JD from DePaul University in Chicago, his MS in management from University of Colorado and his MA in finance from Webster University. He was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the State of Illinois and the State of New Mexico. He was a certified professional contracts manager and was a fellow of the National Contract Management Association.

Joe served over 30 years in the Judge Advocate General’s Department of the Air Force. His distinguished military career included three overseas tours, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, and Korea. He retired from the USAF in 1987. He then went on to serve as Administrative law Judge for the Workers’ Compensation Administration of New Mexico until his retirement in 2001.

Joe was also known for his participation in his other interests. He enjoyed playing golf, coin and stamp collecting, and was a mentor to scouts seeking the rank of Eagle Scout. For much of his life he had a canine friend to whom he was devoted and who was in turn devoted to him. He is survived by his children, Yvette Wiltgen, Brett Martinez, and Joseph C. Wiltgen; and his grandchildren, Michaella Murphy, Isaac Phillips, Brandon Wiltgen, Brittany Gabaldon, Brenten Wiltgen, Bryan Wiltgen and Brianna Wiltgen; great-grandchildren, Cooper Gabaldon, Parker Gabaldon and Lily Wiltgen. He also leaves sons and daughters-in-law of whom he was fond. He is survived by his sisters, Mary Rivers and Virginia Lippe; and brother, Robert Wiltgen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas Eugene Wiltgen and Agnes Marie (Suchy) Wiltgen; brothers, Nicholas A. Wiltgen and Charles M. Wiltgen; and his wife of 62 years, Dolores June (Curtis) Wiltgen.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:30 a.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 49 or Disabled American Veterans.