Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez

Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez-Hernandez was born on February 5, 1964 and raised in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. He passed away on the Sabbath day December 19, 2015 as the sunset surrounded by all his loved ones. He now sleeps awaiting the call of his savior to wake him up on that great resurrection morning. Felipe was the 9th child out of 10 born to the late Loreto Hernandez-Hernandez and Professor David Rodriguez-Velazquez. He was a very loved and happy child; since childhood he had a passion for sports playing volleyball and baseball being selected for state little leagues and high school state level teams. Because of his love for sports he decided to become a physical education teacher. He then went on to study law at the University of Michoacan.

In 1987 he met his beloved wife Martha Duarte in Mexico while she was in a study abroad program. He then relocated to Lansing, Michigan and they were married for 28 years with two loving children Philip and Paloma. He went on to work at Cristo Rey Community Center as the kitchen supervisor then transitioned to Michigan State University as a stock handler. He was a member of the Lansing Seventh-Day Adventist Church since 1995 where he had an unwavering faith for God. He served in the church as an elder, deacon, health ministry team and part of the Lansing Chorale where his love for music passed onto his children. Felipe touched the lives of many and will forever be remembered by his family and countless friends who were all blessed to know him from all over the world. Friends and family are all invited to attend either or both memorial services to be held at the Lansing Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 5400 West St. Joseph Highway on January 3, 2016. Spanish service will commence at 1pm and English service will commence at 3:30pm followed by a unity international potluck dinner at 5pm. The family will greet friends for visitation on Monday January 4th, 2016 at 11:00am at Gorsline-Runciman and begin funeral procession to Evergreen Cemetery at 12:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Lansing SDA Livestream Project, 5400 W. St. Joseph Hwy., Lansing, MI 48917-4006. Felipe desired to be at church so often when he wasn’t able to and he wanted this gift possible for others who can’t.

Felipe fue el noveno de una familia de 10 hijos; sus padres, el Profr. David Rodríguez Velázquez y la Sra. Loreto Hernández Hernández. Fue un niño muy amado y siempre sonriente; desde pequeño se destacó como gran deportista: jugó Beisbol con el equipo ‘Titanes’ desde los 8 años de edad donde fue seleccionado del Estado de Michoacán en la categoría infantil. Jugador también de Voleibol del equipo representativo del IMSS y seleccionado estatal por éste mismo deporte desde el año 1981 a 1984. Fue profesor de primaria en la materia de Educación Física en Colegio Salesiano de Morelia (1982-1986), así como en el Instituto Pedagógico Piaget (1983-1987). Estudió hasta el tercer año de la carrera de Derecho en la Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. En el año de 1987 conoce en Morelia a Martha Duarte, quien sería el amor de su vida y con quien decidió unirse y emigrar a la ciudad de Lansing, Michigan en Estados Unidos y tuvieron 2 hijos Philip y Paloma Rodriguez.