Juan Borrego

Juan Francisco Borrego, 95, a resident of Pojoaque, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, after a short illness.  Juan was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Teresa Bustos, daughter Carmen Seitz, parents Juan C. Borrego and Lucia Montoya; brother Gilbert Borrego; sisters Trinidad Espinoza, Ascension Barth and Christina Valerio.  Juan was born in Santa Cruz, New Mexico in 1920.  He graduated from Holy Cross Catholic School (K-12) where he was Center on the basketball team.  In 1942, Juan enlisted in the Army/Air Force and was stationed in Lavenham, Suffolk, England, where he was a Staff Sargent with the Anti-submarine Squadron 839 of the 487 Bomb Group, until the end of World War II. Upon returning from his military service, Juan married Teresa Bustos, made a home in Pojoaque and in the ensuing years they had six children.  Juan is survived by his daughter, Dolores Borrego Jacobs, sons John S. Borrego and wife Catherine Montoya, Christopher M. Borrego and wife Gail Dunlap, Edward Borrego, and Nathan Borrego, and wife Karen Kellovich.  Grandchildren include Sabrina Salvato of Santa Fe, Whitney Ryan Jacobs of Maryland, Andrea Jacobs Denzien of New York, Jason Borrego of Albuquerque, Johnathan Borrego of San Diego, and Sarah Abeyta of Albuquerque. Great-grandchildren are Gabriel Denzien and Sophie Abeyta.  Additional grandchildren and great-grandchildren by marriage are Jason Dunlap, wife Michelle and children Brock and Brooke; Danielle Dunlap and daughter Kayla Mendoza; Joshua Romero; Jeremy Romero and his son Jude.  Juan is also survived by his sisters, Lydia Lopez of Fairview, NM; Petra Martinez of Las Vegas, NV; Amelia Lobato of Albuquerque, and nieces and nephews too numerous to include here. Juan worked hard all his life beginning with his job for the Port-of-Entry weigh station in Pojoaque.  He went on to a career as a fireman for the Atom Energy Commission at Los Alamos and retired in 1976.  He began a sand and gravel hauling business during that time that grew into a full time operation by the time he retired from Los Alamos.   Juan retired from the hauling business in 2005, but he remained active and involved with family and friends until the day before he died. Public visitation will begin on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque, with a rosary to be recited at 4:30 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque, with interment to follow at 10:30 a.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations for the Pojoaque Valley Fire Department to DeVargas Funeral Home.  The family of Juan F. Borrego has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

---