On December 12, 2022, Louie Castilleja went home to Jesus, his Lord and Savior. He was born on July 14, 1969, in Prosser, Washington, to Walter & Mary Castilleja. He attended Grandview schools from kindergarten through high school, graduating with the class of 1987.  Louie then moved to Tri-Cities where he went to college at CBC, earning an AA and AS degree in criminal justice. While attending college, Louie got a temporary Christmas job at United Parcel Service. This "temporary " job lasted 32 years until he retired in 2020 after his diagnosis of cancer. Louie took pride in his job and treated every package delivery as his own, always going the extra mile for his customers. He made lots of friends on his routes over the years and cherished the friendships he developed.

In 1992, Louie fell in love with Wendy DuBois, and they married on November 6, 1993. Behind every good man is a great woman, and this was especially true with Wendy. They settled in Kennewick and started their family. In 1997, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Jenna, and in 2002, their son, Lucas, was born. Louie was so proud of his kids! Louie and Wendy spent countless hours attending their kids' sporting events. Louie loved watching Jenna play softball, whether it was with the Angels traveling club team, Kamiakin High School, or her college softball team; Louie loved every minute of it. Lucas made Louie proud at an early age as well, while playing Grid Kids football for the Colts. He was quarterback from Grid Kids all the way through high school at Kamiakin under the Friday night lights. Lucas also played baseball with the Reach for many years. Watching the kids brought Louie great joy but seeing their character development as they grew into adults was an even greater delight.

Louie was diagnosed with GBM Grade 4 brain cancer in October 2020, but he continued making memories with his family while receiving treatments, traveling to Phoenix for Mariners Spring Training, to Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, and made other memorable trips to Montana's Big Sky, and New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Louie enjoyed these times with family, as well as his many trips prior to diagnosis, from Hawaii to Mexico, Florida and California. He made memories with his family they will forever cherish.

Louie enjoyed hunting and fishing but did less of them over the years due to the kids' sporting events. He also loved shooting guns at the range and was a Range Safety Officer. It became a challenge to continue shooting as he lost the use of his left hand.

Louie outlived expectations for GBM patients, living for two years and two months beyond diagnosis. Eventually, his physical body lost the battle with cancer. However, we know his spirit lives on because he trusted in Jesus. "When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer...You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live. So, I'm going to live! " Louie adopted this motto early on and lived his life to the fullest!

Throughout his illness, the amount of support shown by Louie's family and friends was humbling and incredible. It showed how much he was loved by so many. We would like to thank everyone who took time to call, come over, pray with Louie, share a meal, and even the occasional spa treatment to help him to help deal with his disease and make him feel normal. God placed some amazing people in Louie's life during this difficult journey. Dr. Guy Jones and Alla Schock did so much for him from the first day of diagnosis. Emily Volland (and so many others) has been an angel on earth, helping in various ways. We can never find the right words to express our gratitude about what it has meant.

Louie is preceded in death by his father Walter Castilleja. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, who took care of his needs not only during his Illness but throughout their 29 years of marriage; daughter, Jenna Mara (Matt); son, Lucas Castilleja; mother, Mary Castilleja, who provided tender care to Louie during his illness; brothers, Walter Castilleja and Art Castilleja, sisters, Nicole Bentley (Jeff) and Crystal Boose (Todd), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, and all of his in-laws. His mother-in-law, Kathy, was an integral part of his caregiving team as well, for which we are so grateful.

We grieve, but not without hope. Louie believed the scriptures: "God saved you by his grace when you believed. You can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece." (Ephesians 2:8-10) and "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:12-13). Louie had the Son, and thus, his faith has now been made sight. He had believed in and received Jesus as his savior. God identified Louie as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in his heart when he believed. This is the guarantee that God will make good on everything He has promised (2 Corinthians 1:22). Praise be to God for his indescribable gift of salvation; for his amazing grace. We are comforted in knowing Louie is now healed and in the eternal presence of his Lord.

A viewing will be held at Muellers Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union Street, in Kennewick, on Wednesday, December 21st, from 5-7pm. The memorial service (reception immediately following) will be held at C3 Tri Cities, 150 Gage Blvd, in Richland, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2022.