He was born on May 17, 1964 in Valparaiso, Zacatecas, México. Rene is predeceased by his mother Maria Nicolasa Resendez Rivas. He is survived by his father Juan Perez Rivas, his wife Alma Delgado Rivas, their five daughters and their spouses, Veronica Rivas (Tito Solis), Maribel Rivas Ruiz (Manuel Ruiz), Alma Eredy Rivas Trujillo (Alfonso Trujillo), Andrea Rubie Rivas Peña (Ricky Y. Peña), Ariana Laura Rivas, twelve grandchildren, Esmeralda Sevilla Rivas, Ricky Rivas Peña, Samantha Sevilla, Alyssa Valerie Peña, Crispin Angel Solis, Alexis Milagros Solis, Alexandra Rivas, Manuel Julian Ruiz, Victoria Angela Trujillo, Araceli Ruby Solis, Cruz Eduardo Solis, Daniel Juan Solis, one great-grand daughter Daleyza Adalie Estudillo, six brothers Jose Rivas, Jaime Rivas, David Rivas, Santos Rivas, Alvaro Rivas, Uriel Rivas, numerous nieces and nephews, and two family pets, Tigre and Drogo.
Renulfo and Alma were married for 35 years. Their first date was on Valentine's day, where they won 2nd place in a dance contest. Our Dad spent the better part of his life working construction, specializing in underground utilities for thirty years. He started as a laborer, worked his way up into general foreman and retired as a superintendent.
He was a proud father and grandfather. He enjoyed family gatherings, the outdoors and listening to both Spanish and English music. People who knew him best knew he was a big prankster! One time he telephoned uncle Guillermo "Memo" Gomez, and told him he had purchased a John Deere tractor and wanted him to come check it out and give him his opinion. So here comes uncle Memo after work. When he arrived they got to talking and had a cup of coffee. After a while, uncle Memo says " Well, where is the tractor? Lets go look at it. Our Dad responded, "It's right here, dont you see it?!" It was a John Deere tractor cookie jar. He was also known for making a mean hot salsa and carrying his own serrano peppers in his shirt pocket just in case a meal needed to be spiced up!
Dad was also a lifelong sports fan, especially baseball and boxing. He looked forward every year to spring training. The Arizona Diamondbacks was his favorite team.
After winning his battle with cancer in 2016, our Dad was a devoted and active sponsor for St. Jude’s Cancer Center for Children. He often visited sick family and friends and would lead Novena rosaries for the faithfully departed.
And so the story goes on… until we meet our Valentine again.
