Apolinar Diaz

Apolinar Santiago Diaz passed on August 14, 2026, at the age of 82, and was a resident of Bakersfield, California.

A Committal Service will take place at Live Oak Memorial Park, 200 E Duarte Road, Monrovia, CA 91016, US, on September 4, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Apolinar "Poly" Diaz, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and faithful servant of God, passed away on August 14th, 2026 leaving behind a rich legacy of love, hard work, and unwavering faith.

Apolinar was born on July 23, 1944, in El Grullo, Jalisco, Mexico, to Angela de Santiago and Eulalio Diaz. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, using his hands and helping provide for his family as early as four years old. It was in Mexico, while selling paletas, that he met the love of his life, Francisca, at the age of 19. The two were united in holy matrimony in 1963, beginning a remarkable journey that would span 63 years.

In the early 1970s, Apolinar traveled back and forth between Mexico and the United States as a migrant worker, working tirelessly to build a foundation for his growing family. After several years of hard work and sacrifice, he relocated his family to the United States to create new opportunities for his children and future generations.

Known to all as "Poly," Apolinar was an exceptionally hardworking man and a natural entrepreneur. He spent many years running his own chain-link fence business, sharing the trade and skills he had learned with his children and grandchildren. He later joined Quality Fence Co., where he dedicated many years of service until his well-earned retirement in 2007.

Apolinar spent the last 20 years of his life in Bakersfield, California. He often shared that, as a child, his dream was to one day own a ranch and have animals to care for. In Bakersfield, he was able to fulfill that dream. He spent his days tending to his crops and animals, and nothing brought him greater joy than welcoming his family to enjoy the special place he had created.

Having surrendered his life to the Lord as a young man, Apolinar lived a life deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and the message of salvation. Alongside his beloved Francisca, he did not need loud words to proclaim his faith. Instead, he quietly and consistently shared the Gospel through his character, kindness, humility, and everyday actions.

Apolinar is survived by his devoted wife, Francisca; his five children, Joel, Jesus, Jaime, Camelia, and Jacob; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren, all of whom will continue to carry forward his enduring legacy of faith, love, hard work, and devotion to family.