Pablo Salinas

How do you measure the worth of a man? Is it through the size of his house, his family, legacy, heart or the void that is left when he’s gone?

Pablo Salinas was a man whose worth may never be measurable. The void he left can only be filled by the memory his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren keep in their hearts, but he also left a great legacy, one that will live on through us all.

On July 3, 2013, Pablo quietly passed away, surrounded by his family after living a life with one central goal: to make a better life for those he loved. It was this idea that motivated him in all the decisions that he faced, an idea that took him from his home in Laredo, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, and finally to Racine, Wisconsin, and the house where he spent over fifty years.

Pablo was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1930 and his family quickly moved to Laredo where he spent his early life together with his five siblings. He left his home at the age of 13 to help his family and to seek his fortune in the world. During his travels he became a jack of all trades working on the railroad, but also as a cook, mechanic, tanner, presser and a migrant worker. During his days as a migrant worker he met Josephine Cruz; they wed in 1950 and shortly thereafter they moved to Racine where Pablo began looking for work. They would eventually have six children together.

Pablo found employment at J.I. Case, where he worked as a machinist on the floor. He would spend over thirty years with the company and became a member of their twenty-year club. He retired in 1982, but the company would always be very dear to him. In 1957 Pablo bought the house where he would spend the rest of his life. It is situated at the end of Ehlert Street with the Root River silently floating by. In his later years he was content to sit at home with family, tell stories or sing in his typical family tradition, cook, tinker with broken things and read history books as well as the odd Sherlock Holmes mystery. People remember a kind and gentle soul who spent little on himself, but was more than willing to help out family in need.

Survivors include his children, Robert Salinas, Richard (Marie) Salinas, Ruben Salinas, all of Racine, Rosa (Jan) Salinas Hultman of Sweden, Rita (Daniel) Lonergan of Racine; nine grandchildren, Jason Salinas, Antonio (Maria) Salinas, Christopher (Marie) Marry Hultman, Jon Hultman, Catharina (Erik) Hultman Eurenius, Amanda Hultman (David Raschke), Richard (Lisa) Lonergan, David (Tracy) Lonergan, Randall Lonergan; nine great-grandchildren, Alivia, Quintin, Susanna, Mina, Maia, Cordell, Jayden, Parker and Jaelan; brothers, Juan Salinas, Miguel (Mary) Salinas; sister, Gloria Alaniz, all of Laredo, TX; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Raymond; and brother, Manuel Lopez; and great-grandson, Zayden Lonergan.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 801 College Ave., at 6 p.m. on Monday, with Rev. Esteban Redolad officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church Monday from 5 p.m. until time of Mass at 6 p.m. Memorials to Careers have been suggested.

The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Kristine Dziurzynski and the staff at Wheaton Fransiscan-All Saints third floor ICU for all of their loving and compassionate care.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine    (262) 634-7888