Marcos Jaime Gallaga

Marcos Jaime Gallaga was born on April 25, 1923 in Irapuato Guanajuato, Mexico to Maria Sixtas Jaime and Isidro Gallaga. He went to be with his eternal love, Lina San Juana Gallaga, in Heaven on March 7, 2016.

As a young boy, he worked with his father as a shoe maker. In his lifetime, he worked in many different areas such as construction, railroad, General Motors, Raybestos, picking fruits and vegetables in the fields. He was the example and role model of a hardworking man to his children.

Marcos was no stranger to the military and was proud to serve both the Mexican and the United States Army. As a teenager he joined the Ejercito Mexicano (Mexican Army). He was able travel throughout Mexico while he was in the Ejercito. As a soldier in the Ejercito, one of his memories includes when he took part in riding a train from the U.S. border to Guatemalan border to make a special delivery of dynamite. In addition, when President Roosevelt arrived by train to the U.S. border, he and another soldier personally assisted the President off of the train because he was in a wheelchair at that time. He was honored and proud to be a descendant of Miguel Hidalgo (Father of Mexican Independence), whose mother was Anna Maria Gallaga. Miguel Hidalgo played a major role in the Mexican Revolution. When he became a legal citizen of the United States he was drafted immediately into the United States Army where he proudly served.

Marcos resided in Laredo, Mexico with his family. During that time, he met a beautiful young woman by the name of San Juana Rico who was visiting her family in Laredo, Mexico. It was love at first sight. He would put a bandana around his neck, his cowboy hat sideways, prop his leg up on a crate, grab his guitar and begin to play for her. The tune went “tu tata, tu tata, tu tata” over and over. As they both would tell the story, they fell madly in love! And after two weeks, they eloped. They were married 60 and 1/2 years to the day his eternal love San Juana passed away. They had a beautiful family.

Marcos is survived by four children, Susie (Jesus) Gonzalez, Lourdes Gallaga, Gerardo Gallaga, Jose Gallaga and Rosemary Ortega who joins them in Heaven, 22 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

He was an amazing son, solider, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His legacy will live on through the cherished memories those who love him share.