Dan Baca

Dan Baca 

1949-2024 

Dan Baca, age 74, a resident of Las Vegas, Nev., for more than 45 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, with loving family at his side.  

Dan was raised in Peralta, and graduated from Los Lunas High School in 1967. He graduated with a master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M and lived in Houston for seven years, where he taught middle school and later operated a Texaco service station.  

In 1973, Dan married his wife of 50 years, Elvia. He and Elvia returned to New Mexico after his son, Miguel, was born as he began a career as a mechanic with Toyota. After a few years in Albuquerque, the family moved to Las Vegas as Dan worked as a mechanic for Toyota.  

In Las Vegas, the Bacas welcomed their daughter, Francesca, and Dan founded Baca National Differential and Transmission. He was a successful manager for more than 30 years. He prided himself as a fair, honest, helpful, trustworthy businessman.  

Dan’s greatest gift was his belief in people. Dan would help keep his customers cars running and saved them every dollar possible. He gave anyone an opportunity to improve themselves, whether it was a young person or homeless in the neighborhood. He considered himself blessed and would share his knowledge and gifts with everyone possible.  

Dan remained a teacher at heart. He taught employees, his family and friends. After years in business, Dan returned to the classroom and taught at the College of Southern Nevada.  

Dan’s greatest love was his family. As a proud father, he coached soccer for more than 10 years. Later in life, Dan became the biggest fan of his grandchildren’s basketball, soccer, cheer, track and baseball teams. In 2023, Dan was blessed with his first great-granddaughter, Navy.  

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Lillian Baca; brother, Jimmy Joe Baca Jr.; grandparents, Jenaro and Trinidad Black and Santiago and Filomena Baca; mother-in-law, Maria Medina; and brother-in-law, Benny T. Jaramillo.  

He is survived by his loving wife, Elvia; son, Miguel Baca (Cindy); daughter, Francesca Anderson (Mike); grandchildren, Zachary Cooper, Natalia and Gianna Baca (Parker), Michael and Jackson Anderson; great-granddaughter, Navy; and sisters, Bernadette B. Jaramillo, Lucille Hernandez (Michael) and Jacque Haynes (Rodger).  

Services will take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta on Saturday, April 27, with a public viewing at 9:30 a.m., a Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m., and a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.  

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Michael, Gianna, Natalia and Jackson.  

The family would like to thank all the family and friends, who have been so supportive with care for “Uncle Dan” Baca. Gratitude to Fr. Emmanuel Izuka for his prayers and blessings, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Parish staff and community for the Funeral Mass, hospice nurses and many others who have shown their love, kindness and compassion to the entire family.