Juan Modesto Salazar

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Juan Modesto Salazar, 87, of Brownsville Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, the 19th of February 2022 surrounded by his family, including his wife of sixty-one years, Guadalupe Sauceda Salazar.

Juan was born on September 28, 1934, son of Dolores Holguin Salazar and Guadalupe Salazar of Brownsville, Texas. In 1951 at the age of seventeen, Juan joined the Navy to support his mother and seven siblings. He was a Seaman and served during the Korean War where he earned various medals and honors until he was honorably discharged in 1955.

In 1961, he married the love of his life, Guadalupe “Lupita” Sauceda, and went on to have three children: Melissa, Ian, and Abel. Juan was determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. So, in 1967 he moved the family to Huntsville, Texas to attend Sam Houston University. He worked as a prison guard at the Texas State Penitentiary and attended Sam Houston University and eventually earned a degree in Theology in 1970. Subsequently, in 1985, he earned his Master's in Education from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. Juan was the first to graduate college in his family.

Upon earning his degree, he returned to Brownsville where he taught school at Cromack Elementary for four years and then at Skinner Elementary for twenty-six years where he retired. On Sundays and weekday evenings he devoted his life to teaching and preaching in the church. In 1971, he began organizing groups of students and eventually formed a ministry for young people. He continued his youth ministry and teaching Sunday school until he was eighty-four, when his battle with dementia began.

Juan also passionately served his community through volunteer work at various nursing homes and group homes for boys and girls. When La Esperanza Home for Boys opened, he took the opportunity to support the boys by tutoring them and taking them to church. While teaching at Cromack Elementary; he met a nun by the name of Sister Carmen who later went on to direct a school for girls. She requested Juan's support with the girls at La Esperanza as he had given the boys. In 1981, he was asked to help with The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club where he would gather and assist the children to take them to attend camps such as Camp Hoblitzel in Fort Worth, Texas and Garner State Park in Leakey, Texas. Once retired, Juan volunteered at Valley Grande Manor for many years. He would visit during the day and engaged the residents by teaching them history, showing them old classic movies and just talking and visiting with them. On special occasions, he would throw a party and take them pan dulce or cakes.

Juan had ten grandchildren: Kassandra Lynn McCann, Kelsie Michelle Curtis, Alyssa Marie Salazar-Gay, Kaylah Nicole Linder, Daniel Elijah Salazar, Noah Ezequiel Salazar, Michael Ian Salazar, Jonathan William Flores, Abel Omar Salazar Jr., and Maya Kira Salazar. Juan instilled in them his faith and passion for Jesus Christ, the importance of education, his fierce work ethic, and the meaning of loving and serving others. As a result, his grandchildren have followed in his footsteps and exceled in school earning various degrees, educational accolades, and working in fields serving people and youth. Juan was unendingly proud of his grandchildren, and they meant more to him than anything else in the world.

Anyone who knew Juan knew that he was the most loving father, husband, and uncle a family could ask for. Juan was preceded in death by his mother, Dolores H. Salazar; his father, Guadalupe Salazar; brothers Daniel Salazar, Guadalupe Salazar, and Ignacio Salazar; sisters, Isabel Olguin, Herlinda Flores and Dolores Lopez. Survivors include his loving wife, Lupita Salazar; his children Melissa Salazar Flores (Michael), Ian Salazar, and Abel O. Salazar; his ten grandchildren; his sister, Delia Dominguez (Eduardo); and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 27th of February 2022 between the hours of four o’clock in the afternoon and seven o'clock in the evening within the West Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The family requests all funeral service attendees meet directly at the church. The Funeral Service will be held at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, 28th of February 2022 at Templo Jerusalem Asambleas De Dios, 44 Western Boulevard, Brownsville. Interment with military honors will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Ian Salazar, Ian Michael Salazar, Michael Flores, Jonathan William Flores, Abel O. Salazar Jr., and Abel O. Salazar.

Memories of Juan may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.