Carlos Guzman Castañeda

Carlos Guzman Castañeda passed away at his home with family in Upland, CA on June 27th, 2026. He was born on June 27, 1938 to Rafael Balbuena Castañeda and Librada Guzman Castañeda in Valle de Rosario, Chihuahua, Mexico.

He was the third of eleven brothers and sisters, survived by eight siblings.

As the son of a sharecropper, he was self-educated in Spanish and English. In 1956, he joined the “Bracero” program offered to farm workers for permanent US residency and eventual citizenship. His yearly travels scanned the harvests of the US Southwest and eventually landed in Cucamonga, CA. That year, he met Irma Salinas Castañeda, also of Chihuahua, Mexico. They married and resided in Upland, CA for the past 70 years where they raised three children and adopted two more children.

After completing the Bracero program, Mr. Castañeda worked for over 20 years as a machinist for Fasson Industries in Cucamonga, CA. During that experience, his entrepreneurial spirit developed into masonry contracting and real estate apartment management. If you ever worked for or with Mr. Castañeda, you’ll always remember a warm smile and his homemade breakfast burritos.

Mr. Castañeda is known for entertaining his family and friends through his love for cooking. “Mi casa es su casa” was a reality for many. He is the patriarch of the family, known as “El Rey”, named for a song he performed often. While in Spain at the age of 65, he discovered cigars, and the rest of that is history.

In retirement, Mr. Castañeda was “Pe-Pa” to 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, most especially his breakfast club at the bagel shop in north Upland. May he be remembered for more than has been written. Sigo siendo el rey.

Mr. Castañeda is survived by his wife Irma Salina Castañeda of Upland CA; daughters Adella (Brian) May Castañeda de Boster of Crestline, CA, Bertha Alicia Luna Gayton of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Jennifer (Jeff) Ashley Vincinsky of Upland, CA; sons Carl Anthony Castañeda of Crestline, CA and Hector Rafael Castañeda of Barstow, CA.