Santiago (Sant / Santi / Junior) Cisneros Jr.

Jan. 7, 1999 – June 28, 2025

Santiago Cisneros Jr. of Greybull, WY, passed away on June 28, 2025, at the University of Washington Oncology Department in Seattle. He was surrounded by love, with his wife Jessi and daughter Quinn holding him close as the Lord brought him home.

Santiago was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on April 27, 2025. He was admitted to the ICU at Billings Clinic until June 6, when he was able to return home after a round of chemotherapy. On June 21, he was transferred to Seattle for further treatment.

Santiago was born on January 7, 1999, in American Fork, Utah, the eldest son of Santiago and Luz Cisneros. In 2003, the family moved to Springer, New Mexico, and later to Basin, Wyoming, in 2007, where Sant started the second grade.

Growing up, Santiago loved playing baseball and football, riding horses and four-wheelers, hunting and shooting prairie dogs with his brother and sister. He especially cherished car shows with his dad, showing off their prized 1972 Ford pickup. He embraced the ranch lifestyle, often helping his dad and Grandpa Wilford on the B7 Ranch.

Santiago attended Riverside High School, where he played football, participated in FFA, and loved welding class. He graduated in 2017, and that summer, he and his buddy took off for Garrison, Montana, to herd goats—a trip full of adventures and stories. In the fall, Santiago began studying diesel mechanics at Northwestern (Sheridan) and graduated with an associate degree in 2019.

In 2015, Santiago met Jessi on a blind date during Greybull’s homecoming. That date turned out to be the start of forever. On July 12, 2018, Santiago gave Jessi a promise ring, vowing to marry her once she completed nursing school. He proposed on September 3, 2022, and the two were married along Shell Creek on September 2, 2023, in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by loved ones. On March 16, 2024, Santiago and Jessi found out they were expecting their first child. Quinn was born on November 26, 2024, making Santiago a proud and devoted father.

Santiago was a gifted and hardworking mechanic. He worked for G.B.C., J&E Irrigation, MI SWACO/WyoBen, and GK Construction before pursuing his dream of owning his own shop. In March of 2024, he officially opened Big Horn Auto and Diesel. There probably wasn’t a motor he couldn’t fix. As he’d say, “I’d rather not work on hybrids—but I bet I can figure it out!”

When he wasn’t working, Santiago loved taking the side-by-side out, running the dogs, and cruising the hills with his girls. He loved hunting—especially birds—fishing, camping, going to Denver for baseball games, and gambling in Deadwood. Above all, he enjoyed anything he could do with Jessi and Quinn.

Santiago had a mustache that was nothing short of iconic—bold, proud, and unmistakably Sant. But even more memorable than his mustache was his big heart. He was endlessly kind, with a genuine old soul that made people feel welcome and safe. His laugh was contagious, joyful, and impossible not to smile at. Whether you were a friend or a stranger, you walked away from a conversation with Santiago feeling a little better than before.

Santiago is survived by his wife, Jessi Cisneros, and daughter, Quinn Cisneros; his parents, Santiago and Luz Cisneros; sister, Karina Cisneros; brother, Adan Cisneros; in-laws Stephen and Jamie Wamhoff; sisters-in-law Stevi (Klinton Robertson) Wamhoff and Dusti (Jared) Mowery; brothers-in-law Derik (Rachael) Henderson; Jake Amadon; nieces Mataia Henderson, Makinli Mowery, and Annabelle Amadon; nephews Marshall and Deklan Brown, and James Amadon.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Elio and Socorro, grandfather Wilfred Brimley, and Jessi’s grandparents, Papa and Meme—Wayne and Denise Paris.

“I could write a million pages worth of memories with Santiago. I’m just sad our time got cut short and we couldn’t continue making our life happen ... but looking back, I have to cry tears of joy, because I see how much we did and all that was accomplished in the time that we were gifted.” —Until we meet again, your loving wife, Jessi

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Elks Lodge in Greybull on July 12 at 11:00 a.m. If you’d like to bring a side dish to go along with the provided food, that would be appreciated, if you just want to come, drink, and share stories after the service, that’s great too. We want to do it just the way Santiago loved his parties: lots of side dishes, lots of beer, lots of friends, and good stories. Anyone with a memory of Sant that would be willing to share a short self-recorded video clip of themselves telling the story so we can compile all of the clips to share with Quinn when she is older would be greatly appreciated. they can be sent to Santiago or Jessi’s phone. 

The family thanks everyone for the love, support, and kindness shown during this incredibly difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made under Santiago’s name at Security State Bank for Quinn’s college fund.