Born November 18, 1929 to the late Francisco Sr. and Felicitas Velasquez. He lived a full and happy life. He felt grateful and blessed for the life God had given him. He was a very private, kind and thoughtful man with a good sense of humor. His family was most important to him besides his faith. His motto was “Be Nice”. He enjoyed playing and watching all sports especially the KC Royals and KC Chiefs, watching Westerns, reading Western novels by many authors but his favorite being Louis L’Amour and working on crossword puzzles. His jobs were many, starting from being a Western Union delivery person, an Icehouse worker, working on a railroad crew with his father, and then retiring after 42 years at Sheffield and the Armco Steel Mill.
He had many challenges in his lifetime but accepted them in stride, because he was a survivor. He had many health issues throughout his life, but God always helped him through them especially the loss of both of his wives, Pauline (Madrigal) married for 49 years, and Trinidad (Perez) married for 13 years. He always said he not only found one great woman to share his life but two. He loved them dearly. Also preceded in death by his daughter, Beatrice (Joe) Burns, Brothers and sisters, Adolph (Lucy) Velasquez, Juanita (Frank) Martinez, Hope (Jovan) Diaz, Benny (Delphina) Velasquez, Lilly (John) Murillo and Sara (Carlos) Medina and daughter in laws, Olivia Velasquez, Cindy Velasquez, and grandchildren Paul and Matthew Sitton, and James Burns.
Survivors include: his siblings, Guillermo (Phyllis)Velasquez, Rachel (†Dan) Contreras, Esther (†Elias) Salinas, Rosalie (Abel) Deperalta, and Rudy (Karen) Velasquez. His children, Stephen Velasquez, Rita (Joseph) Wright, Salvador Velasquez, Kathy (Rick) Sitton, Anthony (Leah) Velasquez, Frances (Mark)Benkovich, Francisco (Pancho) Perez, and Bobby (Josie) Moreno, 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
He will be remembered as a kind and loving man who took on adversity with faith and determination to overcome by sharing his love, wisdom, and guidance for all of us.
He will be greatly missed but well remembered.
Visitation will be held Tuesday June 25, 2024, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 S. Lee’s Summit Rd., Independence, Missouri. 64055. Funeral Mass will immediately follow visitation. A live stream will be available through the church website. A committal service will occur at Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery, 6901 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri. 64131
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