In Memory of Juri Veenpere

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, Juri Veenpere, who left us on March 26, 2025, at the age of 84.

Juri (Jerry) was born in Kivioli, Estonia on April 6, 1940, to Julius and Ottilie Veenpere. At the age of 11, on December 18,1951, he, his mother and siblings, Jaan and Anne, emigrated to the United States, spending 3 days at Ellis Island. The family then moved to Winchendon, Massachusetts in January of 1952.

Juri (Jerry) was drafted into the United States Army on August 1, 1963. He served for 2 years at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. He then worked for Civil Service at WSMR as an Engineering Technician. It was in El Paso that he met the love of his life, Carmen Haro, on a blind date. They were married on April 9, 1965, and spent the next 60 years of their lives together.

Juri was a successful businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit. He opened his own business, Jerry’s TV & Appliance, in Alamogordo which he and his wife Carmen successfully operated for 33 years before retiring. He also invested in both commercial and residential real estate and was an incredible handy man, able to fix anything, long before the days of you-tube videos.

Juri was an active and admired member of the community, receiving both the citizen of the year award and business of the year award. During his years in Alamogordo, he served or was a member of the Lions Club, Sertoma, the Knights of Columbus, the Chamber of Commerce, St. Jude’s Catholic Church, and the Elks Club.

Juri’s passion was traveling the world and learning about other cultures. He and his wife Carmen took dozens of cruises and land tours. He passed his love of travel to his children and grandchildren. Juri also loved his garden, spending time in his backyard planting flowers and admiring the view of the Sacramento Mountains.

Juri is survived by his wife Carmen; his daughters, Monica Guidi (Gary), Deborah Dobozy (Tom), Sonya Roberts (Bruce); his grandchildren, Kriston Roberts, Sean Guidi, Sara Guidi, and Summer Dobozy; his great grandchild, Bree Casillas; his brother, Jaan Veenpere.

We will strive to honor his memory by living our lives fully and being ‘the best of the best’ as he was to all of us.

Services will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Alamogordo Funeral Home on First Street. Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm with Memorial Service at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Monte Vista Cemetery with Military honors.

The Veenpere family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the arrangements.