Apolonio "Loney" Sauceda

Apolonio “Loney” Sauceda passed on to be with the Lord on March 27, 2022 after a long life which was well-lived. He was born on April 18, 1927 in Argentine, Kansas to Lauro Sauceda and Maria Rangel and was one of twelve children. He grew up during the depression, and his parents were hard-working and resourceful people who made sure the children were all taken care of and received a good education through the Catholic Church. He grew up playing baseball with his brothers, cousins and nephews, as well as working part-time at farming and at the Ice Plant. He joined the Army in July 1945 and proudly served in Germany at the end of WWII. When he returned from the war, he and his brothers, along with other Mexican servicemen chartered American Legion Post 213 in Argentine, Kansas, where they continued to serve their community. They also formed a fast-pitch softball team named “The Eagles.” Loney became a member of the Kansas City Softball Hall of Fame. He went to Jr. College in Kansas City and began his career as a Cartographer with the Army Map Service. In 1956, he married Joyce Curtis, had four children, and lived in Merriam, Kansas. In 1969, Loney packed up his family and moved to Las Vegas after falling in love with the weather during a family vacation. He also loved the glitz and glamour of the casino business and worked in the industry until getting hired with Clark County. He worked as a Drafter for 25 years in the Planning and Zoning department. Through the years, Loney had a very active life traveling the world with his companion of 25 years, Terie Leidner and her daughters, Lise Lee and Starr Weiner. He was movie star handsome, was in commercials and print ads, was an “extra” in more than 40 movies, and got to meet and take pictures with numerous popular actors. He belonged to the American Legion Post 8, where he founded and was captain of the Honor/Color Guard for 40 years, and was a past Post Commander. He also belonged to the Army National Guard and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel.

In 2011, Loney contracted the West Nile virus from a mosquito bite, which he battled and came back with a vengeance. He lived the last 10 years to the fullest by enjoying keeping in touch with many family and friends; maintaining his scrapbooks; watching his beloved old John Wayne westerns, war movies, and love stories; reading; adding to his collections of pigs, elephants, bison, jewelry, historical and funny articles. He loved enjoying cruises to Mexico, and taking day trips with his adult children and dear friend Janet Gogo. He especially liked going to Mt. Charleston, Boulder Dam, Red Rock Canyon, China Ranch, Rhyolite, Sedona and other locales. When family and friends came from out of town to visit, he always toured them around his favorite city—Las Vegas. He enjoyed visiting with all of his grandchildren so much, and loved to go to his grandchildren’s baseball games and birthday parties. Family meant everything to him.

In 2016, he took the trip of a lifetime with the Honor Flight organization to Washington D.C. with fellow WWII veterans to see all of the war memorials. He also got to go back to Kansas for his 70th high school reunion. The University of Nevada at Las Vegas’ Latinex Project interviewed him for his life story and it is chronicled in their library. He was honored by the Latin Chamber of Commerce for his military service. He also donated pictures and memorabilia to the Southern Nevada Historical Museum. He had many honors given to him for his life of service in Kansas City and Las Vegas. He will be greatly missed by so many who knew and loved him and his quick wit and fun-loving zest for life. He was charming and funny and he loved to laugh and make others laugh by telling stories, saying one of his “Loney-isms” or doing his “elephant trick”. He also had an empathy and compassion for those in need and was a very generous man. He made his mark on this world, and was very proud of all of his accomplishments, but he always remembered his humble beginnings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and 10 siblings: Emillia, Natalia, Pablo (Paul), Fidel, Fred, Leonora, Vincent (Vince), Clara, Louis (Louie) and Mary, partner Terie Leidner, and two grandsons named Jacob.

He is survived by his sister Justina (Tina) Abarca, his ex-wife Joyce (Curtis) Schweikert, daughter Linda Blount (Phillip), son Christopher Sauceda (Cizon), daughter Kathleen West (Michael), and son Anthony Sauceda (Suki). He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.