Jose S. "Koda" Gonzalez
1922 - 2018
Obituary
Jose "Koda" S. Gonzalez age
96, was born Dec. 17, 1922, in Newton. Jose was the third of 17
children born to parents of Jose Gonzalez and Hilaria Rincon
Gonzalez.
He was employed 39 years with Santa Fe
as a trackman/laborer, employment which began in 1941 and continued
his until induction into the US Army in 1943. He returned to Santa Fe
upon discharge in 1945, retiring in September of 1981.
His military service was from Feb. 12,
1943, to Dec. 11, 1945, as a Technician Fifth Grade in the 1913th
Engineer Aviation Battalion. He was Military Occupation Jackhammer
Operator 188, serving in Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Southern
Philippines and Luzon. He earned medals including the Asiatic Pacific
Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service
Star, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Jose arrived home on Dec. 12, 1945.
On Dec. 22, 1956, he was united in
marriage to Elsie Sifuentez Tafolla, who survives.
He was a longtime member of Our Lady of
Guadalupe Church.
"Koda" was known for his love
of writing, reading and music. He collected newspaper articles of
family members, friends and events pertinent to local or national
history.
He enjoyed sitting for hours at his
roll-top desk, organizing and pasting articles, but most importantly,
writing in his daily journal of various events throughout the day. It
is unknown how far back his daily date back, but the end at about
2009.
In addition to his wife Elsie of home,
he is survived by three children; daughter Paula M. Sifuentez Tafolla
Whillock, Sons, Socorro L. (Wilabeth) and Rolando L. (Jennifer) all
of Newton; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three
great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, all of Newton: Daniel
Gonzalez, Reynaldo (Theresa) Gonzalez and John (Wilda) Gonzalez; and
three sisters, Anita Domme, Newton, Angelina Chapa, Ft. Worth, Texas
and Josefina Victoria, Newton.
He is preceded in death by his parents,
five brothers; Carmen, Doroteo, Antonio, Raymond, Jose Maximo, Jose
Martin; three sisters, Natalia, Maria Ortencia and Loretta Moreno;
one sister-in-law, Isabella Gonzalez; three brothers-in-law, Leo
Moreno, Rudy Chapa and Richard Domme.
Jose loved and believed strongly in his
family, with his enjoyment was to see his family together. His
grandchildren sharing funny stories and songs he made for each of
them.
He loved to travel, especially to his
Army reunions he attended coast to coast. He had just returned in
November from the honorary flight trip and was the only WW II veteran
on the trip receiving outstanding recognition for his service. It was
a great finale to his full life.
Jose "Koda" will be missed by
all his family and friends.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m.
Thursday (Dec. 27, 2018) at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
with The Reverend Devin Burns. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will
precede the Mass at 10 a.m. at the church. Visitation will be 5 to 9
p.m. Wedensday (Dec. 26, 2018) at Petersen Funeral Home with the
family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home.
Burial with Military Honors will be in the St. Mary Cemetery in
Newton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are
suggested to Kansas Honor Flights in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
1922 - 2018 (95 years)