euskalkultura.eus

14/10/2021 - Boise, Idaho, EEUU

Acabamos de conocer el fallecimiento de Javier y no acabamos de creérnoslo.

Nacido en Markina-Xemein, tenía 75 años. Emigró de joven a Estados Unidos. Vivió durante mucho tiempo en Elko, Nevada y hacía poco que se había movido a Idaho.

En 1991 se casó con Mari Carmen, también de Markina-Xemein y juntos fundaron una familia vasco-americana, euskaldun y orgullosa de aglutinar ambos mundos.

Era una persona muy apreciada dentro y fuera de la comunidad vasca. Participaba junto a su familia en eventos vascos, era un ávido muslari y su muerte ha provocado conmoción y un gran vacío entre todos quienes le conocieron.

Su obituario en inglés:

Javier Urquidi passed away due complications from COVID in Boise, ID at the age of 75. He was born in Markina, Bizkaia to Antonio and Josefa. He was the last born of 7 children. He worked as an electrician in Markina until the age of 27. In January 1967 he immigrated to the United States for greater opportunities. He worked as a sheepherder for John Mainville for 5 years. He worked various jobs between driving logging trucks, Basterrechea trucking, meat packing, and coal mining in Wyoming. In 1988 while he was living in Rock Springs, he met the love of his life, Maria Carmen, in Gooding ID at a Basque dinner.

Despite the age difference between them, they married on September 28, 1991 and they started their wonderful life together. In late 1992 the couple moved to Elko, Nevada for an opportunity to work at Newmont Gold Mine. This turned out to be a good move and would be where he retired from his career in 2014. In March 1994 Javier and Maria Carmen welcomed their first child Joan, and in September 1995 their second baby, John was born.

Javier enjoyed traveling to Basque festivals around the west, but his favorite activity was playing mus with his lifelong friend Andres Lejardi. Javier was a hard and dedicated worker who provided the world to his family. After his retirement, he and Maria Carmen moved to Boise in 2015. In retirement, his favorite activity remained playing mus with Andres and the rest of the bascos on Sundays at the Basque Center, and watching pelota on the computer live from the Basque Country. In 2018 the family got a dog named Bella, which became his beloved sidekick. Anyone that knew Javier knows that he was a genuine and honest man. He was incredibly loved by his family and two granddaughters Amaia and Emilie.

Javier is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, his brother Jesus, sister Sabina, sister-in-law Amparo, and many nieces and nephews and will be deeply missed by all those who love him.

Los servicios en su recuerdo tendrán lugar el sábado 23 de octubre a las 14:00 en Boise (Cloverdale Funeral Home (1200 N Cloverdale Rd, Boise, ID 83713-7805)

Nuestras más sinceras condolencias a su mujer Mari Carmen, hijos Joan y John, nietasAmaia and Emilie, familia y muchos amigos.

GB - May Rest in Peace