Ygnacio Sarmiento Jr.

Ygnacio Sarmiento Jr. passed peacefully on August 25, 2023. He was best known to all who knew and loved him as Nacho. He lived a long life as a traveler, artist (guitarist, photographer, and wood carver), an exceptional family-oriented individual, and a parish servant. Nacho proudly served in the Army during the last three years of the Korean War. Shortly after returning to Alamogordo, he had the opportunity to work for a private corporation to conduct avionics for various aircraft. His work took him to Japan and other countries with military air bases. Nacho loved airplanes. He often said that the years he worked on airplanes were his favorite ones. Nacho lived in Japan for almost eight years. He became a fluent speaker of Japanese, learned photography, and climbed Mount Fuji, among his many adventures. Nacho worked in the US Postal Service as a letter carrier for 20 years. He preferred mail delivery to indoor postal work because for many years, his delivery route was that of his beloved "Chihuahuita", the community in which he grew up.

Nacho was a founding member of the Catholic Men's Cemetery Organization. He and his compadres selflessly worked virtually every Saturday, and often during the week after their own work, for over 30 years. His devotion to the organization helped to create and maintain a beautiful cemetery for the parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Church and for their own families.

Nacho was foremost a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, and father. He was born in Alamogordo on October 9, 1930 to Cruz Arguelles and Ygnacio Sarmiento Sr., his parents who have preceded him in death. Nacho was one of eight children of the Sarmiento family. His living siblings include Juan Sarmiento, Jovita Garcia, Anita Aguilar and Pedro Sarmiento. Siblings that have preceded their brother in death are Mary Schmidt, Concepcion Salazar and Eloisa Ortega. Nacho was an uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Nacho married and was devoted to Maria (Mary Lou) Contreras, who passed in December 2004. He is survived by his daughters, whom he loved very much; Sylvia, Laura, Selina, and Lillian, who is married to Frank Hren. Nacho loved each of his grandchildren: Nicholas, Keegan James, Augustus, Aaron Michael, Elysia, Sofia, and Frank, as well as his great-grandchildren: Isabella and Amelia.

Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Church on Monday, September 11. Visitation begins at 9:30 am, a rosary at 10 am, and mass at 11 am. Burial to follow. The Sarmiento family has entrusted their loving father to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home under the direction of Mark Brown. Cards and flowers can be sent to Alamogordo Funeral Home.

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