Jose Sanchez

May 18, 1930 – January 25, 2022

Jose Paul Sanchez passed away peacefully January 25, 2022 on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, in Santa Fe.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joe G. Sanchez (Bernie), Avelino Sanchez Jr. (Mary Frances), Ramon N. Sanchez (Connie), and Juan B.J. Sanchez; sisters: Lucretia Vialpando (Robert), Agnes Palmer (Bob), Stella Wheeler (George), Louise Salazar, and Mary Irene Sanchez. He was also preceded in death by a nephew, Greg McKenzie, of Vernal, Utah. They were close in age and spent and enjoyed their childhood years together. Paul was also very fond of his deceased primo Joe Gonzales of Tooele, Utah.

Paul was born Jose Leopoldo Sanchez on May 18, 1930. He was the 12th of 13 children with which God blessed Avelino Sanchez, Sr. and Gertruditas Casados Sanchez of the small farming and ranching community of La Villita, New Mexico. He was their last surviving son and last surviving grandson of Don Gregorio Casados, a well-to-do pioneer and rancher in the Espanola Valley. Paul’s early years were spent working with his parents, brothers, and sisters on the Sanchez Ranch. He attended school in San Juan Pueblo with the Dominican Sisters and later attended high school in Santa Cruz. Paul cherished those years with his family and would reminisce frequently with family and friends about his early life. Paul joined the New Mexico Army National Guard in 1949 and was called to active duty during the Korean War. He was inducted at Ft. Bliss, Texas and was stationed at Sandia Base in Albuquerque. He moved to Utah in 1954 and joined the Utah Army National Guard. Paul married and raised his family in Tooele, Utah and went to work for the Department of the Army at the Dugway Proving Grounds. The Proving grounds were used for Chemical and Biological Weapons Testing and was also a Radiological Weapons School. Paul worked there for over 25 years and retired to New Mexico in 1984.

During his retirement years Paul spent time visiting and helping his brothers and sisters and visiting his many friends and primos in Northern New Mexico. A good part of his time was spent with his niece BernaDette Sanchez-Wiegel and husband Philip in Santa Fe. In his later years Berna, Phil and their children, Michael, Miquela, and Cora helped care for their Uncle Paul during his challenging years. He was loved dearly by them and will be missed.

Paul was raised in a very traditional Hispanic Northern New Mexican family who were active members of the Catholic Church. Growing up Paul attended Nuestra Senora de La Soledad Church in La Villita. His ancestors colonized New Mexico in the 1600s and were Mayordomos and active members of La Cofradia de Nuestra Senora de La Conquistadora (Our Lady of Peace). His ancestor Captain Francisco Casados was a member of the Confraternity of St. Michael and donated building material and helped to restore the ancient chapel of San Miguel after the Pueblo Revolt and recolonization of Nuevo Mexico. Paul was very proud to be Catholic and to have been a parishioner and serve as a minister of hospitality at Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Church in Santa Fe.

Paul is survived by Philip and BernaDette Sanchez-Wiegel and family of Santa Fe; sons, David Paul Sanchez and Eugene R. Sanchez and a daughter, Annette S. Roberts and family of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and primos in Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona.

Pallbearers will be: Alfonso R. Sanchez, 1st Lt Cora F. Wiegel, Michael V. Wiegel, Andrew A. Sanchez, Donald D. Salazar and Philip B. Wiegel.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Miquela C. Wiegel, Chris A. Sanchez, Randy C. Sanchez, Greg McKenzie Jr., and Ramon L. Sanchez.

A rosary will be recited by Los Caballeros De Vargas at 10:00 a.m., February 24, at Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Church, 11 College Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico. Funeral mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. with interment at 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to The Carmelite Monastery, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505 in memory of Jose Paul Sanchez.