Jose Sanchez Sr.

Jose Sanchez was the son of Alfonso and Generosa Sanchez from Weslaco, Texas. He was a son from immigrant parents from China, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Our patriarch was a proud Texan from the Rio Grande de Valley (South Texas and 5 miles from the Mexican Border). He insisted that we speak Spanish at home so that we would not forget our language. This was because the teachers would discourage speaking Spanish in elementary school and kids would be punished. He instilled in us the importance of our Mexican heritage, our roots, and especially the language.

Although my father didn’t finish his elementary/high school education, he worked very hard to help his parents to provide for his siblings picking cotton in the hot sun (over 100 degrees). He met his wife, Eleonor in the cotton fields when she was a young girl in braids. He said it was love at first sight. My dad was also impressed with the amount of cotton she could pick in one day and he loved her work ethic. He carried her elementary school picture in his wallet.

My parents married on June 26, 1955 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Weslaco. My father always wanted a big family. They had four children before they moved to Michigan in 1967 during a historic snowstorm. He moved to Michigan for better job opportunities to provide for the family. Eaton Rapids was our hometown before the family moved to Lansing. The fifth child was born in Eaton Rapids in 1968.

Our family lived in a farmhouse on Springport Road without indoor plumbing for 3 years. This experience taught us to be grateful for many modern amenities. Our family worked hard doing migrant work to save money for a down payment on a house. We picked cucumbers in Eaton Rapids, tomatoes in Indiana, and cherries in Traverse City. Although my father told us that we didn’t really need the money, but it was to teach us the value of hard work.

Jose worked at the Paper Mill, and Green Bay Pickle (Highfields) company before working for General Motors for 30 years.

Jose loved to play his accordion for many church/families’ events (Cristo Rey, St. Mary Cathedral and St. Therese). He especially enjoyed playing traditional Mexican songs and serenading on Mother’s Day. Often, this was an all-night event (in Texas).

Our father loved all animals especially cats and dogs. One of his favorite hobbies was to feed the wild birds and hand feed the neighborhood squirrel. He also loved to beautify his yard and enjoyed tending to his/momma’s flowers and vegetable garden. Pop’s loved huge flowers: Dinner Plate Dahlias and his red Hibiscus. He gave away pieces of his Hibiscus plant to the neighbors to enjoy.

He loved old fashion country and old school Mexican Tex-Mex polka music.

My father had a serious side to him and often offered advice to keep the families together, piece of advice, or a piece of his mind, and would give it to you straight. He had a high regard for marriage and family. Loyalty in friendship was important. Unity in the family was important to him as well. His heart was open to extended friends who spiritually adopted him as a father and was affectionately known as “pops” (by Mary Finn and Kathy Bancroft, Ray/Julie Baily and many others).

He had a stroke in 2017 and battled Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Covid19.

We extend our love to all the Employees at Regency West who cared for him and kept him company when we could not.

We miss him dearly although we could only visit through the window.

The greatest comfort is that he was not alone when he went home to the Lord. My brother, Ernesto held his hand and caressed him as he was carried by the Angels to Jesus and Mary.

A Mass Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Saturday, February 6th at 12pm.

On June 26, 1955 Jose Sanchez Sr. married Eleonor Hinojosa. They were married for 65 years. His memory lives on and will be forever cherished by his daughter, Irma (Fernando) Rodriguez; granddaughter, Maritza Lizzette Rodriguez; grandson, Eric Rodriguez; son, Jose Sanchez Jr.; grandson, Jose (Michelle) Sanchez III; great grandsons, Alex Sanchez and Anthony Sanchez; granddaughter, Lori Sanchez; great grandson, Dakotta Eubanks; great granddaughters, Dixie Eubanks and Emalee Myers; granddaughter, Monica Chandler; great granddaughter, Ally Duken; granddaughter, Krystal Sanchez; great grandson, John Meshigaud Jr.; great granddaughter, Jasmin Meshigaud; son, Ernesto (Herlinda) Sanchez Sr.; granddaughter, Andrea Williams; great granddaughter, Nicolette Williams; grandson, Ernesto Sanchez Jr.; great grandson, Jasias Sanchez Mojica; grandson, Carlos Sanchez; great granddaughter, Mariah Sanchez Cody; granddaughter, Anna Christina Sanchez; great granddaughters, Gabriella Sanchez and Natalie Sanchez; son, Hector Sanchez; granddaughter, Stacy Sanchez; daughter, Gloria (Jeff) Sanchez-Thomas; and grandsons, Michael P Thomas and Antonio L Thomas.