It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Lionardo (Londo) Gonzales, 74. He was born on May 19, 1948 in Leakey, TX and passed away in Clovis, CA on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. He is survived by his children Liza Monreal, Louis Monreal and his wife Katrina, Christopher Gonzales and his wife Danielle, Leonard Gonzales and his wife Daniella, and Catrina Jones and her husband Michael. Londo was also blessed with 13 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and one on the way. He will also be missed by his surviving siblings Pete and Ruben Gonzales, Angelita Fonseca and their families.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Rebecca, his parents Thomas and Lucy, and siblings Joe, Tom, and Mary Gonzales.
Londo lived most of his life in Kerman, graduating from Kerman Union High School in 1967. While in school, he excelled in athletics and was known for being a talented baseball player. If you ever had the chance to ask him, he would have told you details of many of the baseball games he played with his Kerman teammates. He could share dates, locations, and names like it was yesterday. Those days were some of his best and everyone who knew him could tell how much he treasured those years.
After marrying his bride, Becky, they built a family and a legacy of love. During those years, Londo continued to play fast pitch with many of his friends and teammates, including his brothers Pete and Rudy. Becky would pack up the kids for long days at the baseball field for softball and slow pitch tournaments. All 5 of their children have wonderful memories of watching their dad do what he loved as Becky kept score and took lots of photos of his crew. He was an asset to the teams he played and coached for: American Forest, Haupt Bros, D&D, and others but more than that, he was a great friend and loved making people laugh.
As Londo and Becky’s children grew older, he would choose to do double duty and become a coach, leading his sons and the youth of the community on many teams: Haigmos, Hawks, Kerman High, and Tranquillity High, in addition to several All-Star teams. He took his role seriously as he tried to guide young boys and girls through the game of life. It was his hope that the tools he gave his baseball and softball players on the field would translate to real life lessons off the field. He wanted nothing more than for all of his kids to succeed in life. Each and every one of those kids meant the world to Londo.
Through it all, Londo showed his children the value of hard work and dedication, spending most of his career as a Cotton Gin Superintendent at West Valley Cotton Growers. He was part of that family for many years and even after retiring, he loved going back and spending time with his boss and crew. In his later years, Londo loved watching his grandkids and great-grandkids grow up, and being a part of family gatherings with his children and extended family. There was nowhere else he would rather be, except maybe the casino, his second love. He was always expecting to win big and in the end, his children would agree that Londo won the jackpot as he reunites with his bride in Heaven.
The family would like to thank those who have shown love and support in honor of their dad during this difficult time. Please join the family in remembrance of Londo at the following service times:
Monday, January 9, 2023
6:00 pm Visitation
7:00 pm Recitation of the Holy Rosary
Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel, 202 N Teilman Ave, Fresno
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
10:00 am Mass
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 15437 W Kearney Blvd, Kerman
Burial and Reception to follow
Golden Sunset Memorial Park, 310 S Goldenrod Ave, Kerman
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stephensandbean.com for the Gonzales family.
