Obituary

Rosalio "Russ' M. Cuellar

Obituary

Rosalio "Russ" M. Cuellar, 79, of Newton, died Wednesday (April 21, 2010) at Newton Medical Center.

He was born on Sept. 4, 1930, in Newton, the son of Jose and Guadalupe Lupercio Cuellar. He graduated from Newton High School and served for a time in the National Guard. He married Judy Macias on April 7, 1951, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Wellington.

Rosalio worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for a short period of time before joining the Singer Sewing Machine Co. He started out as a salesman and technician, opening his store in Newton in 1967, then moving it downtown in 1971, being the first Hispanic business owner on Main Street of Newton. Rosalio recently was recognized for having 50 years of service with Singer.

He was a very active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He had served as lector and eucharistic minister, and was instrumental in the RCIA. He also was a Cursillista and worked in the Spanish Cursillo Movement. He was president of the Francisco Madero Society. Rosalio was a past president of the American G.I. Forum, and he was active in the Civil Rights Movement in Newton and the state of Kansas. He worked with many immigrants to the United States.

Rosalio enjoyed astronomy, bowling, fishing, golfing, collecting stamps and rocks, and was an avid reader.

Russ loved greeting the public and was a natural born salesman. He proudly continued the legacy of his father in serving as a court interpreter for many years.

Survivors include his wife Judy of the home; his children, Rosalie Moyer and husband Chuck of Deer Creek, Okla., Angela Dillon and husband Randy of Newton, Anthony Cuellar and wife Dawn of Newton, Michael Cuellar of Kansas City, Kan., Virginia Hannon and husband Jim of Newton, and Stephanie Burton and husband Dan of Norwich; two sisters, Connie Palacioz of Newton and Isabelle Palacioz of Norfolk, Va.; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jesus Cuellar; and one sister, Eduardo Rodriguez.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, both at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.

A memorial has been established with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Contributions may be left at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.

Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.