Luis Muñoz Tarín was born on February 24th 1942 in the Sierra Mountains in the Northern part of Mexico. His mother, Elena Tarín, died when he was only a 1 yr old. His father Luis, together with his older sisters, Amalia, Chela, and Dora became his parents. He was raised in the strong and proud indigenous tradition of the Sierra Madre Tarahumaras.
At the age of 17 Luis left his village and made the 48hr bus ride to Guadalajara, where he would study Chemical Engineering at the University of Guadalajara – the first in his family to ever go to college. In college he was known as the class clown, and for dating Irma, the “smartest most beautiful” girl in class. Luis wanted to marry her from the moment he first saw her…so he asked…and asked, and asked again until graduation day when she said “yes.”
Luis and Irma were both offered residencies at the University of Baja California and began their lives living in Tijuana. They had four children, two daughters, Irma and Denisse, and two sons, Luis and Dante. Before long they would move back to Guadalajara to be with family.
In the early 80’s Luis left his family to find a better life in America. There he did what he had to survive – dishwasher, construction worker, flee market business man, painter, and the list goes on and on. Eventually he saved enough money to bring his family together and start a life in California’s San Francisco Bay. He was single-mindedly focused on one thing: for his children to have a better life than he ever did.
He loved to cook. Breakfast was his meal of choice, from perfectly round pancakes, to enchiladas rojas ‘montadas,’ he would serve his family at every opportunity. He set a high bar for his children by teaching them how to dream big and never give up. And instilled in them a tireless work ethic, which they learned by working alongside him from the age of 8. Most of all, Luis was a steady cheerleader for his family because he so believed in their potential. It never crossed his mind that they were anything but amazing.
Luis was a funny, loving, joyful man, an eternal optimist. He leaves this legacy to Irma Muñoz, his wife of almost 50 years, his four children, Irma, Luis, Denisse and Dante, and his eight grandchildren: Sara Muñoz (20), Cruz Chapa-Muñoz (12), Frida Muñoz (9), Emiliano Muñoz (7), Olivia Chapa-Muñoz (6), Joaquin Muñoz (4), Amia Jade Muñoz (2) and Baby Muñoz (coming in early October). He is also survived by his sisters Julieta Rascon and Chela Muñoz, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2019 at Funeraria Del Angel, Chapel of Remembrance in Mission from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a rosary at 7:00 pm. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission at 4:00 pm.
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