Diego Mendoza Campa Sr.
Diego Mendoza Campa Sr., 87, died
Wednesday (Dec. 9, 2009) at his home in Newton. He was born on Nov.
3, 1922, in Florence, the son of Perfecto and Benita Mendoza Campa.
He attended schools in Florence. In the early 1940s, Diego went to
work for the Santa Fe Railroad. Diego was united in marriage to
Ventura Terrones on Sept. 26, 1942, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic
Church in Newton. Diego was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943,
serving in the 166th Engineers Combat Battalion U.S. 3rd Army. He
received the Bronze Star, was discharged in 1945 and returned to
Newton. Later in 1949, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, where
he served until being discharged from it in 1952. In 2002, Diego and
some 600 members of his battalion received the "Thank You
America Certificate" from the French government for his
contribution to the liberation of France during World War II.
Diego continued to work for the Santa
Fe Railroad before retiring as a gang leader in the Store Department
on Nov. 3, 1982. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic
Church.
Survivors include his wife Ventura of
the home in Newton; two sons, Roger Campa of rural Newton and Tom
Campa of Bel Aire; five daughters, Gloria Brown, Patty Aguirre and
Benita Campa, all of Newton, Becky Barreda of Brownsville, Texas, and
Carol Sanchez of Wichita; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren;
and three great-great-grandchildren.
Diego is preceded in death by his
parents; three sons, John Campa, Timothy Campa and Thomas Edwards;
one brother, Pete Campa; and two sisters, Donaciana Hernandez and
Tomasa Moreno.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be
at 5 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10
a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will
be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. Sunday
at the church.
A memorial has been established with
the church and Hospice Care of Kansas; contributions may be sent to
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home in Newton.
