Rogelio (Roger) Salazar

ROGELIO (ROGER) CUESTAS SALAZAR

1945 - 2016

Roger Cuestas Salazar, April 3, 1945 – August 25, 2016.  Our hero, husband, father, and Lolo returned home to our Father in Heaven, while surrounded by family, at the age of 71. He was born in Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines to the late Leon Salazar and Bibiana Cuestas.  Roger was a trail blazer and a pioneer. He created opportunities for his family and friends through his leadership and sacrifice. While in the Philippines, he was recruited for the US Coast Guard. He served honorably for 8 years. During his service, he was stationed in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, the Netherlands and Norway.  Roger then returned home and married his childhood friend and next door neighbor, Feliciana (Fely) Papilla Velasco Salazar on January 22, 1972.  Together they raised Dakila Joy (DJ) Salazar and Filipinas Grace Salazar Tea.

Roger and Fely met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and in 1978 chose to be baptized.  He later served as Paniqui’s first branch president of the LDS church.  In 1984, Roger exercised incredible faith by leaving his young family to move to unfamiliar Salt Lake City so he could prepare a life there for his family. He desired for his family to be sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple and to be closer to the members of their faith. He also wanted to provide his children an opportunity for a better education. His family joined him a year later.

His service continued in both church and state. He served as a member of the high council in the Rose Park stake, and by joining the Utah National Guard where he served for three years. On a late night in November 1987, Roger was driving home from work and was in a car accident that instantly changed the course of his life.  The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down and with continued health issues. However, his legacy of service and his sacrifice continue to resonate and act as a beacon, a shining example to many.  For that we say, thank you so much for everything that you’ve done for us.  Thank you for your patriotism.  Thank you for your example of faith.  Thank you for your patience and long suffering.  Thank you for the opportunities that you made available to us. We will honor your life of sacrifice and example by chasing excellence. You are free.  Our hero, our husband, our father, our Lolo is finally free.  We will miss you, but know we will meet again.  We love you!

Roger was survived by his wife, Fely Salazar, DJ (son) and Debbie Salazar and their children Allison (16), Makayla (13), and Malachi (18 months), Daniel and Grace (daughter) Tea and their children Ethan (11), Ingrid (9), and Racquel (7).  He was preceded in death by his parents Leon Salazar and Bibiana Cuestas, Maria Salazar (sister), Pedro Cuestas Salazar (brother) and Pedro  (Jun) Salazar Jr. (nephew).

As a family we want to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at South Davis Community Hospital for the care they have provided to Roger.  Thank you for making his final years more pleasant.

Funeral services will take place 11:00 am on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary (727 N 400 E) in Bountiful, Utah. Interment will be held at 1:00 pm at the Utah Veterans Cemetery (17111 S Camp Williams Rd) in Bluffdale, Utah. He will receive full military honors for his service in the US Coast Guard.