Panfilo ‘Pan Blanco’ Queriapa-Velasquez

Panfilo “Pan Blanco” Queriapa-Velasquez, 88, of Carbondale, died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at his home.

He was born on July 10, 1931, in Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico. He married Sara Tomas.

He is survived by his wife, Sara of Carbondale; his children, Carmen (Domingo) Jimenez, Salvador (Rosalinda) Sebastian, Antonio (Amparo) Pulido,  Melchor (Guadalupe) Rafael, Panfilo (Teresa) Fabian, Maria E. Gembe and Gloria (Hugo) Valdes; daughter-in-law Guadalupe Tomas; 29 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; siblings Melecio (Juana) and Francisco (Elena) Gembe; and brother-in-law Ramiro Duran.  

He was preceded in death by a son, Francisco Tomas; a son-in-law J. Jesus Gembe; siblings Francisca (Atanasio) Tehandon, Hilario (Maria) De La Luz Cucue, Panfilo Queriapa Velasquez and Silveria Duran, as well as five grandchildren. 

He started migrant farm work in the USA at the age of 17. He traveled from California to North Carolina and Michigan to Florida,working various farm labor centered on cotton, various fruits and vegetables. He set roots in Union County with Sara in early 1980s and began to focus more on apples and peaches.

His hobbies included deer hunting, watching wrestling (he met Macho Man and his brother Leaping Lanny), watching boxing (especially Julio Cesar Chavez), playing basketball (he enjoyed watching Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Michael Jordan) and he  loved gardening. Pan Blanco always gave away his produce to family and friends. 

He enjoyed traveling back to his hometown and planting Southern Illinois peach trees. For many decades, he could be found every weekend playing basketball in downtown Cobden. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Private graveside services for Panfilo “Pan Blanco” Queriapa-Velasquez will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Cobden, with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating.

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. 

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden is in charge of arrangements.