euskalkultura.eus

08/25/2020 - Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Our family suffered a profound loss on Tuesday, August 25th, with the passing of our dad, Juan Luis. He was 72 years old.

- In Celebration of Juan Argoitia: wwww.juanargoitia.com

At the age of 17, he left his family home in Ziortza, Viscaya, Spain for an opportunity to help his family, and begin a new life. Like other Basques before him, he came committed to a 3 year contract of indentured servitude as a sheep herder. Unfamiliar with the remote location, the solitary work conditions, and with no knowledge of the English language, he came with one suitcase, and a 6x12 inch immigration name tag on his jacket.

After 3 years of herding sheep on the side of a hill in Weezer, ID, and obtaining his permanent residency, he started a new adventure. He began to work in truck driving, and construction. Through the Basque grapevine, he and some of his friends, learned about job opportunities at the Jim Bridger Powerplant, near Rock Springs, WY. After working for sometime in WY, he enrolled in night school, he learned how to weld, a skill that would change his life forever.

Always looking for other members of the Basque culture, he found his way to Salt Lake City, UT. There he discovered the Fonda Espanola, a Basque hotel that was owned and operated by the Otazua and Gamboa families. There he met his first wife, Stephanie Gamboa, they married in Salt Lake City, and later had 2 amazing children

Over the years, his success allowed him to establish his own welding business, and purchase a ranch in Morgan, UT. There, he and his second wife, Diane Noble, were able to live their dream of building and working their land and raising competitive racehorses together.

Dad was the definition of a self made man. His generosity over the years touched so many lives, and established permanent bonds with the people he knew. He was an amazing force (the Juan factor) that will never be forgotten.

Gure aita maitea. Maite zaitugu, bedeinkatu zaitugu zure seme-alabak izan garela eta izugarri galduko zaitugu. Berriro topatu arte ...

Juan lives on in his family through his wife, Diane, and their daughter Jen (Andrew); his first wife Stephanie and their son, Jonathan, and daughter, Jennifer (Ralph); his grand-daughter, Amaya; brothers Jose (Begona) and Eleuterio; sisters Mari (Pedro) Aburruza and Josefina (Juan Jose) Lorente.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jose Martin Argoitia and Felipa Zuazo and sisters Julian & Eugenia Argoitia.

Goian Bego (GB) - Rest in Peace

-official obituary