Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Lopez Jimenez, 63, was born in Las Huertas Viejas, Jalisco México on February 1st, 1960, and passed away in Santa Paula on November 18th, 2023. Son of Genaro Lopez Lopez and Ana Maria Jimenez Sanchez, he was one of sixteen children. Ignacio married Maria de Jesus Imelda Lopez Ramirez for 40 years and had 12 children together (Elva, Ana Nidia, Gabriela, Ignacio, Genaro Misael, Imelda Rocio, Saul Arturo, Salvador, Carolina, Elia Guadalupe, Vicente Roberto, and Julie Aurora). The eldest (Elva) was born in 1983, and youngest (Julie) was born in 2008.
Ignacio spent his early life in Agua Negra, Jalisco Mexico working on “Las Huertas Viejas”, the Lopez family cattle and forage crops ranch. In his early adulthood, he came to the United States and established his family in the Bardsdale area near Fillmore, California. He was a proud member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where he attended church every Sunday and you could find him at the adoration chapel frequently at 2 am in the morning. He also served as a member of the church’s “Los Cruzados” men’s group dedicated to serving the community and the Catholic church. In addition to his service to his church community, Ignacio was an avid supporter of the Fillmore FFA program and Fillmore School Farm as he would help the FFA program with his services and support whenever needed.
Ignacio was known for being a hard worker and a provider for his family as he was proudly employed by three generations of the Morris Family (Paul, Bob, and Sean Morris) throughout his entire career as a farm manager for Morris Ranch from 1988 until his passing. Ignacio was immensely appreciative of the Morris family for giving him the opportunity to earn a living in the United States and provide for his family.
Ignacio also employed three labor crews of farm workers as a Farm Labor Contractor from 2006 - 2015. He titled his farm labor contracting company “Las Huertas Viejas Farm Labor” in honor of his family’s ranch in Mexico, “Las Huertas Viejas”. Ignacio always put his employees before himself as he would pay his laborers above the average rate and feed them on the field on a weekly basis. He valued the hard work our farm laborers provide for this world.
During Ignacio’s later adult life, he was a grandfather to eight grandchildren (Guillermo Alejandro, Maria Isabella, Sebastian, Jesus Ignacio, Cristiano, Adiela Ramona, Alani & Cataleya Emma). His eldest grandchild (Guillermo) born 2015, and his youngest (Cataleya) born 2023. He spent his last years with his grandchildren who he loved so much, and he was able to dedicate his dues to the soil in his ranch “Las Huertas Viejas” in his final years. Ignacio will always be remembered as a man with proud family roots and as a dedicated American Farmer who immersed his knowledge, love, and respect for agriculture among his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed singing loudly and had a great sense of humor. He will be remembered for his charitable compassionate nature as Igancio always served others with humility. His family will carry on the positive legacy and memories he left behind.
His visitation will be on Monday, December 4th, 2023, from 4:30 - 9:00 pm, (Rosary at 6:30 pm), at Chapel of Angels in Santa Paula, 600 E. Pleasant Street, Santa Paula, CA. His Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, at 10 am at Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 1048 Ventura St, Fillmore, CA. He will be rested in his ranch “Las Huertas Viejas” in Jalisco Mexico. For map, direction to ceremony location, to sign the family’s online guest book, share stories and post pictures visit www.santapaulafuneralhome.com and click on Ignacio’s name under Obituaries. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the family owned and operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral Services, 830 East Santa Paula St. Santa Paula, CA 93060. For further information please call (805) 229-7054 Paula St. Santa Paula, CA 93060. For further information please call (805) 229-7054.