Santiago R. Jaramillo

Santiago Rodriguez Jaramillo, 96, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, March 18, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. His church family knew him as “Jimmy” and others as “Jerry”. From 1955 through 2010 he was known in town as "the sewing machine repair man". Santiago was born on December 19, 1920 in Sarita, TX to Rafael Pina Jaramillo and Anita Rodriguez Jaramillo. He was raised in Kingsville where he attended local schools including Tex-Mex Presbyterian. He later earned his GED in Corpus Christi. While in high school he met his future wife of 74 years, Nelda Rita Solis. He joined the Army in 1938, completed basic and advanced training at Fort Ringgold, TX, and was assigned to the First Cavalry Division in Fort Riley, KS. Before he left for Kansas, he and Nelda were married on Dec. 31, 1941 in Kingsville. His military unit was deployed to the Western Pacific in 1943 under General Douglas McArthur and participated in campaigns against the Japanese army in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea, and the liberation of the Philippines in 1945. After WW2 Santiago and his family settled in Corpus Christi. He worked at the CCNAS, ARADMAC, and CCAD 1955 – 1978 where he retired from civil service. He was a member of Kelsey Memorial UMC, The Methodist Men until his death and was a fifty-plus year member of Del Mar Lodge #1350. He was a 32 nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason. He was also a founding member of the VFW Hall on Kostoryz Rd. Santiago was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved music, guitar, piano and family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Nelda; daughter Alma J. Young; grandson, Joseph R. Jaramillo, parents, and five sisters. Survivors include his daughters, Anita (John) Valles, Gloria J. Garcia, and son Jimmy (Yolanda) Jaramillo; eight grandchildren, Angela, John Mark (Miki) Valles , Tony Valles, Michael Garcia, Erica (Omar) Leal, James E. Jaramillo, Jennifer (Kevin) Moczygemba, Joanna Jaramillo; two step-grandchildren, Eric and Wendy Young; and six great-grandchildren, Christopher, Ian, Alana, Benjamin, Jacob, and Leah.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel – Memorial Holly Chapel, 3442 Holly Rd., with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Kelsey Memorial UMC, 1610 Comanche St. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Chamberlain Cemetery, 735 W. Caesar Ave., Kingsville, TX 78363 with Military Honors. The family would like to especially thank all of the staff at CIMA Hospice, his personal provider, Esmie Cruz whom he considered a daughter and also Gina and Lori.

Condolences may be offered at www.funerariadelangelmholly.com

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel - Memorial Holly, Corpus Christi, TX.