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Obituary

Antonio Ballarta was born in his native country of the Philippines.
The youngest of 8 children, he grew up with an enduring dedication to
family, service, and faith.

As a young boy near the age of ten, Antonio defied his mother's wishes
to stand alongside the Philippines Expeditionary Forces during World
War II. In the capacity of a runner, he undertook the perilous task of
passing along encrypted messages from covert allied submarines on the coastline to guerrilla units, orchestrating resistance efforts against the Japanese occupiers. Concealing secret dispatches within his pants seams, he navigated jungles, eluding Japanese capture.

Eventually, he uprooted his fledgling family, guided solely by a
dream. Relocating them from the Philippines to Canada and later
settling in Detroit, Michigan, he dedicated over three decades to
working for Chrysler Motors as an electrician. His relentless determination and industriousness paved pathways for future generations of our family, a legacy we work hard every day to honor.

In his home of Detroit, Michigan, he became a vibrant cornerstone of
his community, embraced by many who held him dear as a cherished
friend. His commitment to friendship fueled his passion for golf and propelled him toward the remarkable feat of securing multiple perfect 300 games in the realm of bowling.

As a member of the Knights of Columbus, he was an embodiment of his unwavering dedication to selfless service and the uplifting of his fellow human beings.

He pioneered uncharted territories and materialized aspirations from
thin air, driven by sheer necessity. He was a man of remarkable
resourcefulness and grit, simply because of the selfless love that
compelled him to do courageous things. Remarkably, he achieved all
this with an infectious humor, an integral facet of his courage.

On August 16th 2023, he departed to the embrace of our Lord, reuniting with his beloved Teresa, who had passed just three months prior, on the very day of their 66th wedding anniversary—an enduring and eternal love.

Antonio Ballarta leaves a lasting impact on the world as an endearing
brother to Julian, Victorina, Carmen, Angelica, Juliana, Florencio,
Francisco; a loving husband to Teresa; father to Erwin and Dominic and his daughter-in-laws late Teresa and Rhona; grandfather to Dashiell and Kyle; great grandfather to Asher, Amelia, Oliver, Zoe, Miles, Adeline,Sebastian, Gabriel, and Genevieve;  and friend to many.