Cirilo P. Arteaga
April 21, 2011
Arteaga, Cirilo P., 86, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011. He was a retired clerk for the U.S. Postal Service with 41 years of service and also worked as an EEO investigator and counselor. Cirilo served in the United States Army during World War II. He received the Distinguished Award for 65 years of voluntary service to the Hispanic community from Governor Sebelius. In 2007, he was inducted into the Great Official Hall of Fame. Rosary, 7 p.m., Monday, April 25; Funeral Mass, 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 26, both at St. Jude Catholic Church. Preceded in death by wife, Beatriz; son, Robert Navarette; brothers, John, Robert, Pete and Louis. Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Rick Leal; son, David Arteaga; grandchildren, Shelamar and Jesse Leal and Bernadette Leal-Serratos; great-grandchildren, Paige, Veronica, Alecia, Alejandro and Victoria Serratos, and wonderful nephew, Michael Lerma. Memorial established with La Familia Senior Community Center, 841 W. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67203 and St. Jude Lords Pantry, 3130 N. Amidon, Wichita, KS 67204. Downing Lahey Mortuary West.
Rosary, 7:00 P.M., Monday, April 25, St. Jude Catholic Church
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Mr. Arteaga will long be remembered as a wise man that had great compassion for family, culture, community, and country. I admired his uncanny ability to speak in favor of equality. May your fond memories strengthen your family.
Dear Arteaga Family, I am so very sorry to hear about my little buddy, Cirilo. My heart is truly hurting right now. I was thinking of him yesterday, I don’t remember what time it was, but I really intended to give him a call… but I didn’t, and I am so sad. If I could have just heard his voice one more time, I think I would have felt better. He was the sweetest man, who believed in being fair and honest with everyone he came in touch with. He had such a fantastic mind and memory and I enjoyed hearing his stories about growing up in Wichita. I will miss him very much and I thank God I had the opportunity to know him. God bless you! – Debbie ‘Suber’ Washington (U.S. Postal Service)
I met Cirilo last fall when I called to tell him he would be on the next Honor Flight. We had numerous phone conversations so I arranged for him to be on the bus where I served as a leader for the trip to Washington, DC. Cirilo was a hero in my eyes and those of countless others he met. I was so fortunate to spend some precious time with him. Please accept my sympathy for your loss. ‘Miss Connie’
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. Cirilo will be missed by many – whether it was through the Hispanic Community, family and those who enjoyed his catering services over the years. May you rejoice in your memories.
David, We are thinking about you … Be strong and you are in our prayers The Crippens
Liz–I am sending you and your family my prayers. I will keep your dad in my heart always. Will never forget his last story he shared with us, not to long ago. He left a huge void in this world and no one will ever fill it in.
Dear Arteaga family, I know Cirilo will be missed. He checked my letter case when we worked at the Post Office. He put me at ease, asking about my family and years later on chance meeting was just as friendly.
Mr. Arteaga was one of the ‘Great Ones.’ He was my friend, my Mexican chef (ever tried his burritos? They were great!), Wichita historian, and teacher of civility. Cirilo will be remembered by thousands of friends as a promoter of the Mexican community in Wichita. He will be missed greatly and never forgotten. God bless, Elizabeth and Family.
Luke 24:1-7, ‘ Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: We often think of the cross as the end, but without the resurrection, we have no Christianity. It is the resurrection that makes the Christian religion different from any other religion. Some portray Jesus still on the cross, but He’s not there any more; He’s alive in His resurrected body! Hallelujah! R.I.P. Cirilo Arteaga