August 11, 1944 – November 15, 2022
Luis Leonardo Borba of Turlock, California, was born in 1944 to Luis Machado Borba and Maria Trindade dos Ramos Sousa in the remote village of Faja dos Vimos, Sao Jorge, Azores. Luis was the middle of seven children, three of whom died in their youth, and the other three, Jose, Joao, and Antonio, remained close to Luis throughout their lives.
When his parents and brothers immigrated to the United States in 1966 and 1967, Luis had to stay behind to complete his Portuguese military service. Luis joined his family in 1969 and immediately went to work. By that time, Luis’ brothers were able to purchase 60 cows and rent a small dairy in Winton, while continuing to work on other dairies. Luis assumed his role in the partnership in 1970, and Antonio left to pursue a career in education.
In 1971, the Borba Brothers moved 200 cows to a dairy on Turner Road in Hilmar that became their home ranch. In 1975, Luis married Maria Amelia Dores, who was milking cows with her family at the dairy next door. They raised their four children on the home ranch, twin girls, Maria Fatima (Justin) Gioletti and Helena (Marco) Oliveira, followed by Ana Maria Dyrland, and Luis D. (Stephanie) Borba.
In 1990, Luis and Maria moved their family to the new dairy on Prairie Flower Road in Turlock and began operating as Lumar Dairy Farms. Surrounded by his family, Luis died peacefully there on November 15, after bravely battling ALS for four years.
Although he was a skilled farmer and enjoyed riding horses and making his own wine, Luis’ lifelong passion was cows. He was a calm, humble, and generous man, especially loved and admired by his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Luis led by example, working hard but always prioritizing faith and family; dutifully attending mass at Our Lady of the Assumption until the weeks before his death.
Luis is preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Maria Trindade Borba, his brother, Jose, Jose’s wife Maria Clementina, and siblings Maria Fatima (who died at the age of 18), and Emanuel and Maria do Carmo (who died in infancy). Luis is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Maria Amelia; his four children and ten grandchildren: George, Jacob and Genevieve Gioletti; Lauren and Luke Oliveira; Andrew and Sarah Dyrland; and Charlotte, Amelia, and Louis Borba; his brothers, Joao (Maria Idalina) and Antonio (Mary) Borba; and much-loved nieces and nephews and their families.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Luis’ memory to Spirit of Father Mata (http://spiritoffathermata.com/) or the ALS Association (https://www.als.org/).
A Visitation for Luis will be held Friday, November 25, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 South Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95380.
A Recitation of the Rosary will occur Friday, November 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 South Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95380.
A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 9:00 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 South Walnut Road, Turlock, CA 95380.
A Committal Service will occur Saturday, November 26, 2022, 575 N. Soderquist Road, Turlock, CA 95380.
Serving as pallbearers are George Gioletti, Jacob Gioletti, Luke Oliveira, Andrew Dyrland, Michael Borba, Phil Dores, Tony Borba and Daniel Borba.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstnortondiasfunerals.com for the Borba family.
