Rogelio was born in La Ladera, Michoacán, Mexico on June 26, 1939, to Jose Trinidad Ochoa and Maria Pilar Ochoa Salcedo. Growing up in rural Mexico, his education was limited to grade school. He worked in the fields planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops for sale. He married Maria Castañeda.
Like many young men in rural Mexico, he tried his luck in “El Norte.” He was part of the United States Bracero Program in the 1950’s and worked at various locations within Arizona and California harvesting lettuce, strawberries, grapes, peaches, and other fruits. He would send money back home where he now had a family of three waiting for him. Upon his return, he was able to buy a home in Zamora, Michoacán. He worked in Zamora for a few years and then decided to go back to the United States. He found himself working in Chicago, then moved to Southern California where he became employed at Plastic Model Engineering.
Rogelio worked hard to provide for his family and in 1976, he made the courageous decision to move the family to the United States. Unfortunately, he divorced and found himself being a single parent taking care of three children. Since that point in time, he worked relentlessly and dedicated all his effort to taking care of his children so that they could have a better future. With the help of his mom, siblings, and great friends (Frank and Anita Halbich), Rogelio’s dream came true, and he got to see his children have that success in life.
Preceded in death by his eldest son Agustin, Rogelio is survived by his son Jorge (Sandy) Ochoa, daughter Rosa (Michael) Wilkinson, and three grandchildren: Rogelio “Beto” Ochoa, Stephanie Ochoa, and Salvador “Chavita” Ochoa. Our Pa will be greatly missed but we are comforted in knowing that he rests in peace, wrapped in the arms of beloved family that preceded him in death, in Heaven, with our Lord God.
We love you Pa. Siempre estarás en nuestros corazones.
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