Henry “Rocky” Fernandez, 80, of Kansas City, Kansas passed away on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at The University of Kansas Medical Center. He will forever be remembered as a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to everyone he met.
Rocky was born on August 12, 1932 in Kansas City, Kansas to Gavino and Manuela (Rios) Fernandez. He attended Mount Carmel grade school in Armourdale, Kansas where he completed the 8th grade. One of his fondest memories in grade school was his second grade teacher Sr. Mary Agnes who was an immigrant from Ireland. He remembers her teaching him the song “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”. He was a true hometown boy growing up. As a teenager, he was a boxer, then he moved to be with his sisters in Chicago, where he was introduced to the taste of White Castle Hamburgers.
After the flood of 1951, he moved back to Kansas City to help his mother and father along with his brothers and sisters and their families to relocate. He worked 15 years as a machinist for Schorders, then as a parking control attendant for the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas. Rocky enjoyed collecting coins, comic books, collectable diecast model trucks and cars along with his collection of baseball cards. Rocky now and then spent time fishing along the Kaw River, and enjoyed watching the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals and KU Basketball .
In 1956, he married the love of his life Beatrice Rodriguez. He was 23 years old and she was 21. Together they raised their three daughters: Cynthia, Susie and Tina.
Rocky is preceded in death by his parents: Gavino and Manuela Fernandez, five sisters: Eulalia Robles, Connie Avila, Sarah Villaneuva, Jessie Medrano, and Modesta Fernandez, four brothers: Paul Fernandez, Miguel Fernandez, Marcelino Fernandez and Ralph Fernandez. mother and father-in-law: Ascension and Mercedes Rodriguez, brothers-in-law: Joe “Socks” Rodriguez, Lawrence Rodriguez, Pete Rodriguez and sister-in-law Mary Rodriguez.
Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years Beatrice (Rodriguez) Fernandez of the home, three daughters: Cynthia Lopez and her husband Jesse of Kansas City, Kansas, Susan Rich and her husband John of Kansas City, Kansas and Tina Terrazas. of Kansas City, Kansas. Left behind to cherish his memory are his two grandsons: Jesse Lopez Jr., Matthew Lopez, and granddaughter Lydia Terrazas. Rocky is also survived by two sisters: Adela Flores of Overland Park, Kansas and Juanita Duran and her husband Paul of Chicago, Illinois, sister -in-laws: Ruth Fernandez, Irene Rodriguez-Gouge, Josephine Torres and her husband Manuel and brother –in-law Jesse Villaneuva. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.
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