Peter Luevanos

Life in 1932 was simple and at the same time complicated. Simple in that children played with what they had but raising eight children meant that people worked extra hard to keep food on the table. It meant that you had the bravery to leave your home; familia and customs, tradition, language, climate, all those things that were so familiar to seek a better way to provide necessities for a growing brood. For Wenceslaso and their eight - Michael, Maria, Santos, Carmen, Peter, Lucy and Jose de Jesus. During those early years Peter grew up on Bagley Street, on the floor above the “Dime Store” across the street from La Paloma,a little grocery store selling imported food products. The Alcala’s, Los Matas, Puentes, De la Penas, Seguras, Rodriguez’s, Mejias, and the many more made up the vibrant fabric of the community now called Mexican Town. The 40’s experienced young men leaving to all parts of the world to fight in WW2. Many came back proud to have served and many did not, leaving a life long sorrow in the hearts of families. 11 year old Pete served as an alter boy for his brother PFC Mike’s funeral mass. Michael died in Anzio, Italy. Shortly after the Luevanos family moved a few blocks to 1135 Vinewood. There Pete and all the others went to Ste. Anne school and played basketball, baseball & football for Ste. Anne’s CYO and continued to serve mass. They were in their late teens when the Korean War broke out. Once again these young men went to all points east in all branches of service. They have remained friends throughout their lives, bonding with work (General Motors) and armed service. BOY, his beautiful, reddish furred Irish setter could be seen trotting back and forth from this familiar path, BOY seemed to keep the path of those two streets together. Pete loved BOY. The Mexican American Legion Post 505 has played a strong vibrant part of the life of Peter Luevanos and his many comrades. They continued their service of love for country and community by serving in so many ways. The very early Mexican Festivals, TAPs for veterans services, battle of the bands to raise money for children’s Christmas parties and many more. Pete often enjoyed the many conversations with his father in-law Saturino Puente about their time in the Navy and they loved watching and talking about the Detroit Tigers. When driving from Detroit to Arizona, they tried to stop at all the VFW halls. Pete loved sitting on his porch, enjoying the summer weather and watching all the neighborhood kids play on Carson St. He was always comfortable surrounded by his children, Pete, Mike Laura, Lisa, John, grandson Michael, son-in-law, Otoniel, Great grand daughters, Lucia and Evie along with Mary’s younger brothers, Frank, Bob, John and Chuck, along with his many nieces and nephews.