Mike Calles Gomez

Mike Calles Gomez, 100 yrs., peacefully transitioned to his new life on September 24, 2025. Mike was born on January 9, 1925 to Manuel and Francisca Gomez in Phoenix, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his wife Dora “Baby” and son Ronnie. He is survived by son Michael (Rebecca), daughter Debra (Jose Leyba), 8 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mike was a native Phoenician and a fourth generation Arizonan. He was the sixth of nine children and grew up in the Grant Park neighborhood in the house his father built surrounded by dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He attended Grant and Lowell schools then on to Phoenix Union High School. After the war he attended ASU and through his work, also attended the University of Indiana and Southern Methodist University. Mike married his wife “Baby” in 1943. They were married for 67 years prior to her death. During his high school years, he joined the ROTC and appreciated the new clothes that came with it and wore the training-corps uniform to school every day. During the summer, he worked with Civilian Conservation Corps as a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. In 1943, his service in the US Army began as World War II had started. Mike landed at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion, served under General Patton in the Third Army, fought in many battles, and had the opportunity to march with the Free French in the liberation of Paris. He saw much suffering including the liberation of a concentration camp.

After the war, Mike served in the National Guard, worked as a Right of Way Agent for the County, then went to work for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation also as a Right of Way agent. He negotiated and purchased land for the construction of the Central Arizona Project.

He is a founding member of The Tony F. Sosa/Ray Martinez American Legion Post 41 and was the longest living member. They will be celebrating their 80th Anniversary this year.

He was an avid sports fan, especially for the ASU Sun Devils, a season ticket holder for many years. Mike also enjoyed the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals; he even began an interest in hockey.

He loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on October 8th at Church of the Holy Spirit, 1800 E Libra, Tempe. Viewing at 9:30, Rosary prayers at 10:30, Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.