Jaime Sangroniz, 95, died quietly at his home in Midvale, Utah on February 25, 2017 surrounded by the family he loved and inspired. Born July 22, 1921 in Gernika, Bizcaya, Spain the 6th of 8 children of Leon Sangroniz and Pilar Arrizabalaga. Survived by his loving wife of 64 years Magdalena, four children: Leon (Katherine Dennett), Pilar (Jay Shortsleeve), James (Cathy Doherty) and Cristina (Curtis Padjen) and 6 grandchildren, Cirbie, Antonia, Patxi, Andoni, Mikel and Amaia.
At age 15, he survived the German bombing and destruction of his home in the ancient Basque capital of Guernica during the Spanish Civil war that ominously foreshadowed the beginnings of WWII. After spending his early adulthood working to rebuild his families business, and with little opportunity for a middle child in a post war Europe, he looked to the United States to build his own future. The city dweller of 28 signed on to the lonely life of a sheepherder in the mountains and valleys of Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada. Later he tried his hand at lumberjacking in Oregon, building dams in Idaho, finally settling in Utah, working for Kennecott Copper Mining Company as a miner for 32 years. At age 32 he returned to his home town and married his childhood friend and lifelong companion Magdalena Zatica. They began their lives together in Bingham Canyon, Utah where they made strong connections with other Basques families in the area. As the mine grew and bought out the town of Bingham Canyon, they moved to Midvale City. Together they raised their four children in a warm and welcoming neighborhood. Jaime was a founding member of the Basque Club of Utah and until the age of 93, could be found manning the coffee and punch table at the club's annual dinner-dance. An avid swimmer, he swam every morning until the closure of his beloved Midvale Junior High swimming pool.
The family would like to thank Shellie, Mary and the hospice team at Superior Home Care and Hospice for their care and compassion.
Funeral Mass will be Friday, March 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church, 624 W. Lennox St., Midvale. Holy Rosary will be recited Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State St., Midvale, with a viewing from 6-7:30 p.m. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or The Basque Club of Utah.