Luis H. Perez-Diaz

LUIS HUMBERTO PEREZ-DIAZ was born to Sebastian Perez and Elvia Diaz-de-Perez on May 4, 1975 in Zacatecas, Mexico where he was raised and attended school. In 1992, he moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois. On November 17, 2001, he was married to Ericka Medina at the city hall in Chicago. After their marriage, they moved to Pipestone, Minnesota where he began working for Ellison Meats. On September 3, 2005, he and Ericka had their official marriage ceremony at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone and on that same day two of their sons were baptized as well. In 2006 he went back to Mexico to work on his papers to become a US citizen. Ten months later, he came back to Pipestone where he was re-hired by Ellison Meats (later J&B Group). Luis officially became a US Citizen in March, 2010. Joyce Kadlec and Patti Johnson (his Grandmas) were there to support and celebrate with him. In November, 2019 he left J&B Group and then had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to remove a portion of a tumor from his spine. That surgery gave him the ability to continue walking and driving and he maintained that freedom until about a week before his death. He faced many challenges during his life, especially in the last year, but he never complained. He said, “This is a test from God, I’ll give it my all.” His cancer continued to challenge him and he entered the care of the Pipestone County Medical Center on Saturday, November 14, 2020 and was transferred that same day to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His last words to his brother were, “Always push forward, never look back.” On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, Luis died at the Avera McKennan Hospital at the age of 45 years, six months, and 14 days.

Luis was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. He enjoyed fishing and taking care of his chickens and other animals at the farm in Jasper. He was always smiling even when going through tough times. Family and friends will remember him saying, “I smell barbeque, let’s drive and see who is making it.” Luis loved all of his family dearly. Through the years he gave his nieces and nephews each a nickname; their nicknames always stuck, and they loved that!

Luis is lovingly remembered by his wife, Ericka Perez-Medina of Pipestone, Minnesota; three children, Thomas Eric, Jesus David, and Marialupe Daisy, all of Pipestone; his parents, Sebatina Perez and Elvia Diaz-de-Perez of Pipestone; his siblings, Maria Dora Luz (Gerardo) Barrios of Pipestone, Mariaguadalupe (Valentin) Barrios of Pipestone, Juancarlos (Johanna Garica) Perez of Jasper, Minnesota, Gabriel (Rosamary) Perez of Chicago, Illinois, Sebatina, Jr. (Adriana) Perez, of Garden City, Kansas, and Gabino Perez.

Blessed be his memory!