June (Penn) Saldaña
July 13, 1936 ~ December 13, 2025
Born in:
Pueblo, Colorado
Resided in:
Pueblo, Colorado
June Saldaña, 89, was called to Heaven on December 13, 2025, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by both parents Floyd and Fannie Penn and sister, Shirley Gregg, all of Pueblo. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Hank; niece, Lisa Gregg and Michelle Banks of Austin, Texas; nephew, Douglass (Brenda) Gregg of West Haven, Utah; grandniece, Alissa (Jake) Anderson; great-grand niece, MaCall of Plain City, Utah; and grandnephew, Braden Gregg of Irvine, California.
June graduated from Centennial High School in 1954. She was popular and made friends easily and quite a few went on to college with her at Colorado Teachers College in Greeley, now the University of Northern Colorado. She graduated with a degree in elementary education doing her student teaching at Belmont Elementary School in its opening year. Following her student teaching, she accepted a position as a kindergarten teacher at Belmont working in a classroom with a co-teacher and nearly 50 children in the morning session and 50 in the afternoon session. She did that for a couple of years and then moved to first grade still at Belmont. When the final bell rang, June had worked at Belmont Elementary School for 40 years. At her retirement a student, parent and grandparent that June taught all from the same family presented her with a shadowbox of the 3 generations she taught. She loved teaching and her students loved her; many of them stopping by Room 4 to visit long after they left her classroom or showing up on her
porch just to say “hi.”
She was a lifelong member of Park Hill Baptist Church attending every Sunday until Covid. She was a member of the NEA and was the last graduating class to receive lifetime teaching certificates. After school most days, she would meet her parents at McDonald’s and have a coffee and catch up on their day. She called friends and visited when they were sick. She always filled in and volunteered when needed whether that was catching a bat at Dorothy’s house or moving LaVeta to Pueblo in a blizzard. She was always there for her friends. And her family.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Parkhill Baptist Church, 4235 Parkhill Pl. Interment immediately following at Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Belmont Elementary School, 39 Mac Naughton Road, Pueblo, 81001 in honor of June.
Services
Celebration of Life: January 10, 2026 10:00 am
Parkhill Baptist Church
4235 Parkhill Place
Pueblo, CO 81008
719-542-1552
HI, June taught at Belmont with my mother Theresa Ross. They were close friends and June and Hank were so good to my mother and father Chuck Ross is times of need. They were true friends who went the extra mile to assist my parents many times during their years of friendship. I live in Phoenix and when my father passed away at home my mother called me and asked what to do. I told her to call Hank and June and they promptly came to my mother’s side to assist. June and Hank are GOLDEN. They are a gift from God to our family and so many others. Hank please know you have been an amazing husband to June and you both blessed so many including my dear mother and father. I love you and thank God for June and Hank. June now you and my mother can talk again daily in Heaven and enjoy knowing how many students you impacted and encouraged. My wife Cassy and I thank June. Hugs. Val and Cassy Ross
June Penn Saldana-
Just happened to stumble across the notice in the newspaper pertaining to your passing and honestly felt a piece of me broken deep inside..
You were my first teacher and dear friend that impacted my life from the first day I entered your classroom. The aura of trust and kindness that only animals and little kids can identify was so evident in your being. You gave me the confidence to face the challenge of entering new episodes of my life, as well as the desire to learn. The springboard you constructed for me hurled me through many more years of trials and tribulations. I and many others were so fortunate to have a ‘master teacher’ as such. You touched so many lives and stamped your indelible print of ‘Can Do’ on so many of us. A testament to a life spent with purpose and care.
I last saw you years back at my Mother’s funeral service. You walked up to me, gave me a big hug, offered condolence and then addressed me as ‘My Sammy’. I will take that memory to my own grave and always think of you as that Special Person who believed in me and pointed me in the right direction.
I love you, June Penn Saldana
Hank- thank you so much for caring and looking after Her in what must have been a very trying time. I wasn’t aware that she was struggling with such a debilitating life changer.
Grieve for Her passing, but again, be happy for Her, knowing that She no longer is in the grip of such a terrible illness.
June taught Tom Sr., then Tom Jr., and our daughter Bobbi. What an amazing teacher. Always so caring and had such patients. Hank taught Tom Sr. in high school and has quite a story of their history together. Wonderful people. We are so sorry. Love to you both!
My condolences to Mr. Saldana and the rest of the family. I never knew Mrs. Saldana, but I had Mr. Saldana as my shop teacher many years ago at Excelsior Middle School. Mr. Saldana I would like to have gone to show my respect and pay my condolences in person, but unfortunately my nephew who passed away on the December 26th and his service is at the same time and on the same day.
Mrs. Saldana was a wonderful teacher at Belmont. My children and other families thought highly of her. She made a difference in young lives.
Miss Penn was my first grade teacher in the mid sixties. I loved her! I ran in to her a couple of times over the years and she remembered me! And my family! Such a sweet lady and dedicated teacher.
In 1957, Miss Penn was my kindergarten teacher at Belmont Elementary. She was so instrumental in starting me on my love of learning. I entered teaching in 1976 and taught for over 30 years. Miss Penn had a huge impact on me and my career choice, and I thought of her often over the years!
In the early 60’s she was my 1st grade teacher. I had moved from Casper Wyoming in the middle of the year. She made me feel special and welcome. Her name was Penn then but she got married that year. A special teacher…
My heart is broken.Ms Saldana taught my children at Belmont.She was one of the sweetest and kindest person you could meet. Prayers for Hank …the world lost a angel back to heaven