Luis Gonzalo Vargas, known as Gonzalo, Dad, Daddy,  Papi, Mi Vida, and Tio, passed away on January 7, 2021.

Luis was born in La Paz, Bolivia, to Raul and Rosa Vargas, with his brother Celso.  He was a peaceful  man, a talented artist in portrait art using charcoal and pastels. Luis loved his wife and was a devoted husband, and father, and grandfather.

A great love that Tio Gonzalo had from childhood was fútbol ⚽️ .   He was a great fútboler and played all of his life, in school, and through adulthood when he played with Los Andinos in Minneapolis Minnesota, with a close community of family and friends from Latin America.

Familia Vargas in La Paz Bolivia has a history of famous persons including statesmen, and a great composer,  Teofilo Vargas, his uncle, a gifted and renowned Bolivian musician and composer.   A young woman Teresa went to learn music and sing for Teofilio in La Paz, and that is how Luis Gonzalo met Teresa.   

Another great legacy that Tio Gonzalo has is his love of cooking, entertaining, dancing, and living life to the fullest.  Even in the freezing Minnesota winters, Tio Gonzalo organized and entertained Latin dance parties that would last all night sometimes, usually in the basement, with carefully chosen cha cha cha, salsa, cumbia, tango, bailasito, cueca, and american dance hits.  We, his children and nephews and nieces, would stay up late too, playing and enjoying the party and celebrations !   Tio Gonzalo also cooked and barbecued up a storm during fútbol games, day outings and family gatherings, making delicacies everyone enjoyed.

Luis had training in drafting and art.  He worked in the branch of the american embassy in Bolivia, doing maps and roads.  He worked with engineers as a draftsman, and was a talented artist and artisan and restored antiques for clients that applauded the quality of his work.

A virtual memorial service for Luis will be held soon and its date and time will be posted on this webpage.  Luis Gonzalo Vargas is survived by his immediate family, his wife Teresa, his sons Tony and Raul;  his brother Celso Vargas and nieces and nephews in Bolivia, Susana , Christiam, and Javier. He was preceded by mother and father, Raul and Rosa, Abuela Mercedes, Tia Susy and Tio Juan.    He was a gentle, loving grandfather to his immediate grandchildren Hannah, Bethany and Päivi, the photo is Abuelo Gonzalo with Hannah when she was little.  And Tio is beloved to all of the inlaws, nieces and nephews,  and grand nieces and grand nephews that grew up in Minnesota, and now live all over America.

And the donation in his name:

Tio Gonzalo played for years in Bolivia, and Minnesota and Florida for  adult leagues including Los Andinos, and loves the game.

The organization Minneapolis Soccer for the City coordinates citywide coaches, leagues, and teams for children 5 to 19.  For families that can’t afford the registration fees for their kids to play on regular leagues, or on travel teams, this fund pays for them so their kids can play. 

If you would like to donate in Luis Vargas’ name please go to the following site, for whatever amount ,  however small: 

https://www.givemn.org/organization/Minneapolis-United-Soccer-For-The-City

You may donate privately, or if you would like us to post your donation on this page, forward your donation confirmation email to the following email address and we will post your name: 

exodus20vs12@gmail.com