Obituaries - Tuesday, June 30
Cristobal Luis Arvelo
October 3, 1989 - June 24, 2026
Cristobal Luis Arvelo, 36, of Lawrence, formerly of Salina, left us on June 24, 2026. On October 3, 1989, the sweetest boy was born. An incessant talker from the moment he developed speech, he decided to stop in the early hours of that Wednesday morning.
As a little boy, he would dress in his Lone Ranger mask and towel cape and tell us he was a superhero. Usually quiet and reserved, he would become fiercely protective of his two older sisters and younger brother and anyone else in his circle of family and friends. He loved them deeply and courageously, but for some reason that love never extended to himself.
His passions included history, genealogy, gaming, and art. He collected Manga, action figures, acorns, and his pride and joy was the autographed picture of him and Jonathan Frakes while Cris wore his Jayne hat.
He had a loud, contagious laugh and was an expert level troll in the best way. His lively stories were full of animated gestures and perfect impressions. He gave hugs so warm and tight they threatened to crack your ribs. He made you feel accepted and loved and we wish he could’ve seen how much we felt that way about him. He was never mean or vindictive and would never purposely hurt anyone. He would always try to make you laugh and if you ever needed him, you knew he would be there. He was the best brother and son anyone could’ve asked for. He was not only an amazing role model but an amazing human. He would instantly fill any room he entered with a dazzling light. Unfortunately, when he looked at his own brilliant reflection, he burned his vision so that all he could see was a black hole.
If only he could’ve seen how much we would mourn his loss, how much we would miss him, and how many moments he would miss with us. He was smart enough to talk himself out of anything except his final act. Please let his last bit of cascading light shine on the fact that the memory of a person weighs far heavier than the burden their demons convinced them they were in life. If you are feeling the same way, please give others the chance to convince you otherwise. You will cause far more pain by ripping your existence away from them, I promise you.
In this time of grief, we wrap our arms around his memory , wishing it was him and we hope to find comfort in any signs he’ll give us — a dream, a reference to an inside joke, or a special bird landing close.
Survivors include his parents, Jorge I Arvelo Valentin (Debbie) and Mary Drayer Arvelo, sisters Elena Arvelo (fiancé Ethan Van Akin), Ana Arvelo (Mike Brock), brother Patricio Arvelo, spirit brothers Randy Reed and Brice DeWitt, step-brother Andrew Grossardt, nephews Alexander and William Arvelo-Brock and Wolfgang Grossardt, his best friend Bry Richardson and girlfriend Kayla Ortega, and numerous other family and friends
A viewing and visitation will be held Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 East Crawford Street, Salina, Kansas.
Roselawn Salina