Lou Gomez Jr.
1949 - 2018
Obituary
Lou (Lucio) Gomez, Jr. was born Nov.
14, 1949, in Newton to Lou (Lucio) Gomez Sr. and Frances Gomez. Lou
grew up in a third generation Spanish American family. He graduated
from Newton High School, did art work for Hallmark Cards and then
worked for Santa Fe Railroad for 27 years.
He married Connye Scott and they had
two children: Joselyn Kisha and Christopher Phillip. They lived in
Halstead and Wichita.
After eight years of single life, he
moved back to Newton and taught catechism for youth at Our Lady of
Guadalupe.
In May of 2003, he married Elizabeth
Ann Raid. He graduated from Hesston College with an associates degree
in Pastoral Ministry in 2006. After graduation, he served seven years
as pastor of Calvary Mennonite Church in Liberal, where he was
ordained. There he helped start the Spanish-speaking church, Camino
de Santidad, with Moises Romero as pastor.
He volunteered and later worked
part-time as case manager for Offender Victim Ministries in Newton.
In 2013, he and Elizabeth began serving as the pastoral team for
South Hutchinson Mennonite Friendship Communities. Lou continued in
that ministry until the time of his passing. At Bethel College
Mennonite Church, he served on the church board and in various other
capacities. He led worship there the Sunday before he suffered a
stroke.
Lou passed on Wednesday (Oct. 17, 2018)
with his loving wife at his side. He leaves behind his wife,
Elizabeth; mother, Frances; son, Christopher; daughter, Kisha and
husband Eric Slay; grandchildren Hunter, Chase, Ryder and Francesca;
siblings, Victoria Adame (Frank) and Ventura Porter (Warren) and
their families; and inherited children: Rachel Pankratz (Tim
Hallacy), Ronan and Tynan; Lisa Pankratz (Scott Dooley), Katrina,
Owen and Miles; and Matthew Pankratz (Michelle Roth), Abraham, Leo,
Otto and Hugh.
His father, Lou Sr., passed away April
1, 2014; and his brother, Gilbert, passed on May 10, 2016.
His gentle, generous and welcoming
presence will be missed by many friends and relatives. He leaves us a
loving legacy of faith, family and friendship. Lou's motto he carried
out in all aspects of his life is the following: "People do not
care how much you know until they know how much you care!" –John
C. Maxwell.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday
(Oct. 26, 2018) at the Bethel College Mennonite Church.
Memorials may be given to Offender
Victim Ministries, Newton, or Bethel College Mennonite Church, North
Newton. 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, Newton.
