Francisco Salas

 

Francisco Salas died on the morning of November 29, 2024. He was 77 years old. 

Salas was born on July 28, 1947 in Crystal City, Texas, the fourth of six children born to Manuel Salas and Argentina Rodriguez Salas. 

Part of the Tejano diaspora, the Salas family followed the seasons across the country as farm workers to pick fruits and vegetables. Long hours of work and inhospitable living conditions were a way of life for the Salas family and for Francisco. 

The family ultimately laid down roots in Wautoma, Wisconsin and opened a successful restaurant and motel. Francisco worked at both establishments along with his brothers. 

During the 1960’s, Salas became involved in the civil rights movement along with his brothers, working in solidarity, and in collaboration with the farm workers movement of Cesar Chavez, and the fair housing movement in Milwaukee. During this tumultuous time, Salas met Barbara David. They wed in 1970, and moved back to Wautoma with their two children, Joaquin and Rafael. Barbara worked training horses, while Francisco worked primarily as a social worker and corrections officer for the State of Wisconsin. His free time was spent working on the farm. In addition, his interests included motorcycles, firearms and fast cars when he could get them. He was usually seen with a cowboy hat and boots, broad mustache and a pack of Camel straights on hand. There were lots of scratchy recordings of Johnny Cash and other country music on the record player. Francisco and Barbara also have two grandchildren, Sarah and Alaina.

 Later in life, while Francisco was living with his brother Manuel in Milwaukee, he met Lavinia Vollrath. He would later move to Sheboygan to live with Lavinia. His later years were spent near Lake Michigan, where he logged his steps walking the family dog, and continued to participate in shooting competitions and driving his customized SUV, fast. He loved reading on his Kindle, watching political talk shows, and listening to old records. In 2023 he married Lavinia in his son Rafael’s backyard, in the company of family and friends, including his new stepchildren Ron, Lisa, and Christian. Francisco embraced the role of a stepparent with patience and commitment, also helping to guide and nurture his new grandchildren Tyrone, Chaiton, Darius, and Jaeden with care and understanding. 

Some of the most cherished memories include family holidays and special moments spent together, when Francisco would bring laughter, stories, and warmth to even the simplest of gatherings. He will be remembered for his boundless kindness, sense of humor, work ethic, and the resilience he showed through every life challenge. His legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those he loved, in the lessons he instilled, through the stories he shared, and in the love for him that will never fade. 

A visitation will be held at WITKOWIAK FUNERAL HOME, 529 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday December 14, 2024 with a service starting at 1:00 PM.