Jose Manuel Zaldua

1950 - 2016

Jose Manuel Zaldua passed away unexpectedly in an accident that claimed his life on November 21st, 2016, at the age of 66. Jose was born January 8th, 1950 in Bozate de Arizkun, Navarra, Spain. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Victoriano Zaldua and Juana Azcarate.
After finishing school in 1962, at age 14, he began working as a construction worker. In 1972, after serving one year in the Spanish Military, he followed his brother and sister and immigrated to the United States. He worked as a sheepherder for Sebastien Minaberri of Diamond Sheep Company for a couple years, and then worked for Galainena Sheep Company for a few more years. He finished his sheepherding contract in 1977, and had his heart set on going back to the Basque Country with the money he had saved while working. After much convincing from family and friends to stay in America, he decided to take a gamble, and spent all of his savings to start Zaldua's Gardening. Jose was a very head strong person, he was determined to make his business successful, and so he did. He cultivated many relationships through his gardening business, and had many clients that have remained with him since 1977. He loved fast cars, handball, FC Barcelona soccer, Formula One and Nascar. He would spend countless hours in front of the television set, on his favorite worn out brown leather recliner. Jose kept many of the Basque traditions and implemented many of the things he learned from his youth in his everyday activities. He produced many labors of love with his hands, working well with wood and masonry, especially in his own home. In 2011, he bought his first computer and was committed to learning how to use it. He started a social media account, and unraveled the strands of his ancestry, finding countless family members that stemmed from his beloved home "Mattipenea" in Bozate, Spain. Jose was a fanatic of history, he enjoyed spending his time looking through old pictures and refreshing his memory bank, while identifying people from his childhood. He was the type of person that could light up your life, even if you had never met him in person.
Jose was preceded in death by his parents, and his beloved brother, Javier. He is survived by his brother Julian Zaldua; sister-in-law, Diane Zaldua; sisters; Maria Josefa Zaldua and Josephine Recondo Zaldua; nieces and nephews, Itziar, Ana, Laura, Unai, Jackie, Janet, Miren, Sarah, Molly, Julian Jr, Javier, Jenny, Katie, their spouses; and many great-nieces, and great-nephews who all loved him dearly. The light of your presence has dimmed with your passing, however, we know you are with the Lord. Goian bego eta berriz ikusiartio.
A Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m, on Thursday, December 1st, 2016, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 900 H Street, Bakersfield, CA. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2nd, 2016, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 900 H Street, Bakersfield, CA.
Pallbearers are Jose Recondo, Javier Recondo, Juan Pablo Ramirez, Max Martinez, Pedro Serrate, and Antero Ruiz. Honorary pallbearers are Alejandro Bernal, Armando Carrillo, Jean-Pierre Dalia, Gary Belter, Frank Machado, and Francisco Gorti. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the U.S Soccer Foundation at
https://ussoccerfoundation.org/
, or the Nascar foundation at
http://www.nascarfoundation.org
, or your favorite charity, in the name of Jose M. Zaldua.