Gonzalo Santibanez

Funeral mass for Gonzalo Guzman Santibanez will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 23, 2011, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells. Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22 at Baum-Carlock Baumgardner Funeral Home in Mineral Wells, Texas. Gonzalo will be lovingly remembered by his family and the many friends he made throughout his life. Gonzalo was born January 10, 1942 and raised in Villa Union, Mexico. He moved to Mineral Wells, Texas in 1965 where he met and married Della Morin in 1968 and they had 6 children. Gonzalo never met a stranger, and never ventured out in Mineral Wells without encountering somebody he knew. The world lost a very strong, resilient, smart, and good man on May 18,2011. He was a force of nature and always impressed those who doubted his abilities in just about anything he took on; humbled those who thought one day's work in the sun was too much when he worked in 100+ degree weather year after year; shocked those who doubted his resilience after many health issues; and touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. He was loyal to a fault and a devoted Catholic to Our Lady of Lourdes Church and to Father John Nagle. Gonzalo loved his family, his church and his many friends. Anyone throughout the years, who met Gonzalo, knew they could call on him any time to come mend a fence, lend a hand, or help out. He will be greatly missed by all who loved his boisterous nature and mischievous grin. Gonzalo's easy going, joking nature, and big smile could always bring a smile to people's faces. He respected his many friends and valued family above all, and instilled a strong sense of dedication and determination in his children and they can truly say they were better for knowing him and having him in their lives. He is survived by his wife, Della Santibanez; daughters and sons-in-law Adelita Tafolla of Mineral Wells, Josie and Scott Herzer of Arlington, Holly and Howard Huffman of Mineral Wells, Lena and Greg Snow of Mineral Wells, Maricela Santibanez of Weatherford; son and daughter-in-law Gonzalo and Amie Santibanez of Mineral Wells; grandchildren Helena, Marcelino, and Aaron Tafolla; Marisa, Alyssa, and Vanessa Herzer, Victoria Huffman; Nicholas Snow, and one grandson on the way; brother and sisters, Jose Santibanez, Carmela Villarreal, Teresa Flores; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Jose Narciso and Encarnacion Santibanez; brothers Pancho Santibanez, Alejandro Santibanez, Pedro Santivanez, Eugenio Santibanez, and Tito Santibanez.