Juan Orquiz

Juan Orquiz passed away peacefully on December 23, 2024, at his home in Washington Terrace, surrounded by his loved ones, just two days after his 70th Birthday. He was born on December 21, 1954, in Santa Cruz de Rosales, Chihuahua, Mexico to Pedro Orquiz Rosales and Paula Romero Sigala.

As a small child, Juan moved with his family to Hidalgo de Parral, Chihuahua, where he helped with his father’s business as a dulcero, or candy maker. Together with his sisters, Juan would wake up early in the morning to build a fire in the backyard to make Mexican candies using large copper pots to boil sugar and piloncillo. Juan never forgot this skill and could make a variety of delicious candies, including palanquetas de cacahuate, cocadas, and dulces de calabaza.

Juan’s mother passed away when he was just 11 years old. After his mother’s early death, Juan was raised by his loving sisters who cared for and loved him dearly. In his youth, Juan loved to play the guitar and played in a band with friends from his neighborhood. Beginning at the age of 14, Juan left home several times, working in various places, including on a small ranch in a nearby town just off the Pan-American Highway.

Juan immigrated to the United States with a friend, catching trains to Los Angeles and eventually landing in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked in an insulation warehouse. 

Juan learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and after much deliberation, he was baptized a member in August of 1980 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle font on Temple Square. Juan had been enrolled in English classes at the Guadalupe Center, where he met Susan Dearden. They were married on December 27, 1980, and later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they had four children, Juan Pedro, Lorenzo, Paula, and Alexandro. They lived across multiple states, including Iowa, Texas, and Utah. They were later divorced.

Juan was a skilled baker by trade. He enjoyed making bread and sweets from scratch. Across his career, Juan worked for Iowa City Bakery, Skaggs Alpha Beta, and multiple Associated Foods stores in Utah. Juan worked at Stop and Shop in Ogden as the bakery manager for several years until it closed in 2011. Juan moved over to Lee’s Marketplace in North Ogden, where he was the “Donut Man” until he retired from baking at the end of 2019.

Juan  enjoyed playing pool, listening to cumbias, and dancing at clubs. He met Sara Teresa Martinez while dancing, and after spending many years together, Juan was married to his love on May 31, 2014, in Ogden. Juan loved Sara and her children, Gino, Alesha, and Mario, as his own. Juan and Sara cherished their time together, frequently visiting local thrift stores and reselling items at the swap meet. Through their thrifting adventures, they met and befriended many people, creating lasting connections.

Juan, also affectionately referred to as “Papa Juan,” was a loving father and grandfather. He rarely missed a basketball or baseball game, concert, or performance. He loved phone calls with his family in Mexico, watching John Wayne westerns and the TV show “Cops,” singing loudly to old Mexican ballads with his beautiful voice, collecting brass and Coca-Cola merchandise, and guessing his presents before opening them.

In 2022, Juan suffered two stroke events, which greatly impacted his physical and cognitive abilities. Sara was a dedicated wife and lovingly cared for Juan with the help of their son, Mario, who lived with them.

Juan is survived by his wife, Sara of Washington Terrace; children, Juan Pedro “J.P.” Orquiz, Ogden; Lorenzo (Kelsey) Orquiz, Ogden; Paula (Paul) Richardson, Huntsville; Alexandro “Alex” (Genevieve) Orquiz, Ogden; Regino “Gino” (Krista) Garcia, Roy; Alesha (Jose) Munoz, American Fork; and Mario Garcia, Washington Terrace; 15 grandchildren; siblings, Teresa, Chihuahua, Mexico; Lucia, Sonora, Mexico; and Rosa, Juarez, Mexico; and many adored nieces and nephews.

Juan was preceded in death by both of his parents; his brother, Santiago; his sister, Ramona; his niece, Sonia; and his nephew, Fernando.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Canyon Home Health and Hospice for their kind and professional care of Juan.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. 

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Juan’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.

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