Hipolito Hernandez Briseno

Hipolito always worked hard to provide for his family. He came to California in 1960, from Eagle Pass, Texas with his wife, three of his children and his brother in law, Julian C. Barrientes. In 1962 his 4th child, was born in Modesto, California. In 1971 they moved into a home in Empire, California that Hipolito built from the ground up with the help of family, friends and neighbors. He was a Farm Laborer and a Crew Boss and later worked for Overholtzer Church Furniture and John Ingalls Frozen Food.

Hipolito loved to laugh and tell tall tales from his past. He loved to work on his cars and could take them apart and put them back together almost effortlessly. He was an incredibly talented self-taught artist and he loved to draw pictures of the old west, cowboys and Native Americans. He loved to work in his yard. Keeping his house and yard immaculate was something he took pride in doing and often would want to show his plants to friends and family. He was a very active person who loved to help family and friends. Rarely did he take the time to just relax. He always stayed busy doing something

He was an avid fisherman. When he was younger, he won many fishing tournaments and would come home with prizes and awards. He also fashioned his own fishing lures in a work shed he built in his backyard. He loved sharing these lures with friends and family. He was affectionately called Papa Catfish due to his love of fishing.

He was a tough father at times yet tender and loving in his later years. He never allowed his children to go without and had a laugh and smile that caused people to gravitate toward him. He loved his wife deeply and cared for her until her death in 2017.

Hipolito was preceded in death by his parents, Agustin C. Briseno and Felicita H. Briseno, his loving wife of 64 years, Eulalia B. Briseno, his son, Ricardo Briseno and his sister Rumulda B. Barrera.

Hipolito is survived by his brother, Jose Briseno Sr., three of his children and spouses, Janie Weldon, Paul Weldon, Leticia Calderon, Bill Calderon, Hipolito Briseno Jr, , and fiance, Yessenia Mwaniki, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Papa Catfish, you are loved, you will never be forgotten and you will be greatly missed.