Esequiel "Ese" Gonzalez

Esequiel “Ese” E. Gonzalez passed on to be with his Lord and Creator on May 27, 2007 at Mercy Hospice Johnston surrounded by his loving family. Although Ese was strong of heart, his physical heart wasn’t and he died of heart failure.
Visitation will be held from 5-8pm Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens where a rosary will be recited at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am Thursday, May 31, 2007 at Our Lady of the Americas St. Peters Chapel. Burial will follow at Newton Union Cemetery where military honors will be provided.
Ese was born in Newton, Iowa on November 18th, 1929 to Tomas and Maria Gonzalez, one of 6 children. He attended Newton High School and graduated in 1948. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany as an MP. After proudly serving his country and receiving an honorable discharge, he moved to the Quad Cities where he met his future wife, Sophie Higareda, at a wedding dance. They married on December 27, 1954, and to this union 4 children were born. Ese attended the University of Iowa for two years and then moved to Des Moines. He worked for John Deere as a machinist and then as an electrician until his retirement in 1987. During that time, John Deere sent Ese to Monterrey, Mexico for three years to help start up their new plant. Ese was proud to be a “union man” and was a steward for the union and a “committee man.” He was an architect at heart, renovating and building three homes – two of which he designed. Ese spent his retirement relaxing in his recliner watching TV or reading the paper, attending his grandchildren’s activities, enjoying breakfast at Hy-Vee and sharing stories of his past. Ese was a proud member of the United States Constabulary 793rd Military Police Battalion Association, UAW Local 450 (Retiree), a member of the Masons and a lifetime member of the American Legion. He was also a founding member of the United Mexican American Community Center. He served on the board of the Legal Aid of Iowa.
Ese is survived by his loving wife of ?? years, Sophie; his children, Richard (Christi) Gonzalez, Cathy (Brian) Karn, Christina Gonzalez and Tomas (Nora Marasco) Gonzalez; grandchildren, Geoffrey Gonzalez, Patrick Gonzalez, Jessica Gonzalez, Paul Gonzalez, Stephanie Gonzalez and Paige Gibler; brothers, Ruben (Delores) Gonzalez and Pedro (Lorain) Gonzalez; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosaura Callahan and Delia Morgan; and brother, John Gilbert Gonzalez.
All who knew Ese loved him. Ese’s family knows he is in heaven smoking a stogie, shooting the breeze and “cutting the rug.”
Memorial Contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice Johnston or the American Heart Association.

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