Jesse G Rodriguez

Jesse G. Rodriguez, 84, a longtime resident of Belton, MO, passed away December 29, 2010. The family will meet friends at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, 2011, at Saint Sabina Catholic Church, where a rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. and the family will continue to greet relatives and friends in the church until 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Saint Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. Burial immediately following at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kansas City, MO. Jesse was born August 21, 1926, in Guanajuato, Mexico, the son of the late Ponciano and Hermelinda (Gomez) Rodriguez. As a young man, Jesse worked very hard farming in Texas, Nebraska, California and finally settling with his family in Kansas City. In 1948 he began working for Cudahy Packing House, followed by working at KC Terminal Railroad in 1951. He then began working for Hunt's plumbing from 1968 to 1987. He left Hunt's in 1987 to work for Rodriguez Mechanical Contractor's until he retired in 2002. He married Rebecca Zuniga on May 17, 1944, in Mitchell, NE. Together they raised five sons. He is survived by his sister Hope Gamez; Rebecca his wife of 66 years; sons Jesse Jr., John (Joyce), Paul (Maxine), James (Debbie), David (Nicki); his granddaughter Rebecca of the home; 15 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Francisco; sisters, Jane Gamez, Mary Belman and Constance Henman; and grandson Brian Rodriguez. Jesse truly appreciated where he came from and spent much of his leisure time traveling to see family and to document his journey in life. He enjoyed his garden and working in it, growing many vegetables to be shared by all of those around him. "He believed in education, hard work and 'doing what was right.' He passed down these beliefs to his family. The family will miss his quick wit, well- crafted stories and his infectious smile."