Juanita "Juani" Vargas

Juanita "Juani" Vargas, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on April 27, 2024, in Nampa, Idaho, at the age of 90. She was born on December 11, 1933, in Pharr, Texas. Juani was known for her quiet and friendly demeanor, with a genuine smile that would light up any room. 

As the oldest of eight children, Juani and her family spent her early years as a migrant farmworker, traveling from their home in south Texas to work in different crops: cotton in Arkansas; tomatoes in Michigan; and most of the crops you can name in Idaho, where the family finally settled in Wilder. She later began working at the Caldwell Simplot potato processing plant, dedicating almost 30 years before retiring in Caldwell. 

Juani was a devoted member of Caldwell’s St. Mary's/Our Lady of the Valley parish, later attending St. Paul's church in Nampa after moving there. She found solace in her faith and cherished her time spent in worship. 

Juani’s passion for Elvis Presley and westerns was unmatched. Her extensive Elvis record collection was the envy of any fan. Her fandom peaked with a visit to Graceland. Her paperback collection featured authors like Louis L'Amour, Luke Short, and Janet Dailey. If given a chance, you could be sure she’d find a western showing on a tv channel somewhere. 

Juani loved sports, especially football! The Baltimore Colts were her favorite team, led by Johnny Unitas, who was her absolute favorite. But then, this team from Dallas appeared, and it was all over. No other team could compete with her love for the Cowboys. T-shirts, blankets, cups, key chains – Juani had it all. And on summer nights when she could come by a radio when living in the labor camp, she’d find the St. Louis station, KMOX, and listen to a Cardinal game along with others who followed the team. 

Did someone say let’s go to the casino?! If so, Juani was there. Jackpot and Las Vegas were a regular stomping ground for her, but just about anything with a flashing light caught her attention if someone was willing to take her there. A lucky elephant usually joined her, taken from an extensive collection she had amassed over the years. 

Like many of the oldest children in migrant farmworker families, Juani sacrificed much of her own life in support of the family. She is survived by her sisters: Amparo Prusia, Alicia Olvera, Margarita Vargas; and her youngest brother, Ricardo Vargas. Survivors also include a multitude of nieces and nephews, each of whom loved her immensely and claimed her as “my Juani.” She was preceded in death by her father, Maximo Vargas, Sr.; mother, Mela Vargas; brothers: Romeo, Ramiro, and Maximo Vargas, Jr. 

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 624 Cleveland Blvd. in Caldwell, Idaho. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho. Juani will be dearly missed by all who knew her, as her memory lives on in the hearts of those she touched.