Pablo Mendibles Salaiz

PABLO URCINIO MENDIBLES SALAIZ

29 JUN 1948 – 19 JAN 2023

Pablo Urcinio Mendibles Salaiz, 74, of Sierra Vista, passed away on January 19, 2023, at his home in Sierra Vista, AZ.  He was a loving husband, dad, Tata (grandfather), great-grandfather, and brother.

Pablo was born on June 29, 1948, to Francisco and Dolores Salaiz in Naco, Sonora Mexico where he was raised until the age of nine.  His family then moved to Bisbee, AZ where he attended elementary and high school in Bisbee, AZ.  Pablo worked at the Bisbee Daily Review before being drafted into the US Army in 1967.  He was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA then deployed to Vietnam and served as a medic for the 7th Calvary Division.  In September of 1969, he met Ms. Cruz Villa at a dance, and would repeatedly ask her to marry him.  On November 19th, 1969, (she finally said yes) he married Cruz Villa in a civil ceremony, then had a church ceremony on September 30, 1971.  They had one daughter, Maricruz Adrienne Salaiz. Pablo also had three children from his first marriage – Paul, Stephanie, and Raquel. His son, Paul, joined the Navy and would come home to visit and Pablo loved having him around to talk about his experiences in the Navy. After Pablo was honorably discharged from the military, Pablo worked at the USS Steel Mill in Chicago, IL, and Pacific Bell in CA. In 1976, Pablo and his family moved to San Manuel, AZ to work for Magma Copper Mines.  And once he and his family settled in Sierra Vista, AZ, he worked in construction for many years with his dad, and Sierra Vista became their home. 

Pablo and Cruz lived in Sierra Vista, AZ, for almost 42 years, where they enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  He enjoyed reading and watching westerns, playing pool, dancing, and having a cold Budweiser with friends and family.  He also had the biggest sweet tooth and would take home any leftover cake from a family gathering. Pablo would also lend a helping hand whenever anyone needed it, from helping friends and family move something, to building something.  He also enjoyed watching his granddaughters, Elisa and Danielle play sports, but he especially loved watching them play softball in high school and college.  Once his grandson, Darrin was born, that was his boy.  Darrin would have him playing on the ground with army men and tanks, playing with garbage trucks, and going on walks with his Tata.  Pablo would stop by every morning before work just to see his boy, and stop by after work, to bring candy on some days, chicken McNuggets, and even a swing set.  On a cold morning in February 2011, Pablo was building a shed, when he fell off the scaffolding and broke his neck and back.  He survived the 12-hour surgery with some impairments but showed a strong will to continue to push forward and enjoy life the best he could.  He tried his best to make every game and family function after that.  Even though he walked a little slowly, his wit, sense of humor, and love were untouched by his accident.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, and later, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bisbee, AZ.

Pablo is survived by his loving wife Cruz of 53 years, and his daughters, Stephanie Hamm, Raquel (Gerald) Elliott, Mari (Darrin) Stensby, his sister, Christina Pellerino, his brothers, Jose Salaiz, Frank (Linda) Salaiz, Conrad (Terry) Salaiz, Adrian (Patricia) Salaiz, Andres Salaiz, and Jesus Salaiz, his granddaughters, Elisa (Alan) Powers, Danielle (Kai) Vukomanovich, Kittye-Marie Roman, Lena-Marie Roman, Tiffany Hamm, and grandson Darrin Stensby. His great-grandchildren are Anthony, Madison, Haylee, and Emma Powers, AJ and Martin Roman, Liam Martinez, Kimberlie, and Melanie Dinwiddie, Tyler and Isaiah Hamm, and many nieces and nephews as well.  Pablo also had grand dogs, Carli, Jax, Dusty, Harley, and Atlas.  He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Urcinio and Cruz Salaiz, and maternal grandparents, Fausto and Rita Mendivil, father and mother, Francisco and Dolores Salaiz, his son, Paul Salaiz, his grandson, Nathaniel Stensby, nephew, Gerardo Jasso, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

He will be interred into eternal rest at the Southern Arizona Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on 30 January 2023 at 1045 am with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, if you’d like, please make donations to the America Heart Association or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

The man, the myth, the legend…..and our Hero!  You will always have a special place in our hearts.

We love you to Circle K and back!

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