Juan Delgado Rodriguez (El Tiger) was born on June 24, 1929 to Manuel and Petra Delgado Rodriguez in La Feria, Texas. He attended schools in La Feria and was drafted to the United States Army on November 2,1950 for 2 years and served in 2 Countries Japan and Korea and served in the Korean war 1950-1953 with a decorated medals of honor for Army Occupation Medal (Japan) UN Service Medal, Korean Service Medal/Bronze Service Star, Combat Infantry Badge and 224th Infantry Battalion. When he returned back home to the states he met Ms. Ninfa Leal and married in 1953 which lasted 64 blissful years until her untimely death in 2017. They started their family and his farming life which instilled by his father Manuel. He worked as a farm foreman for 24 years until his retirement in 1984. He spent his retirement days enjoying his many hobbies of raising farm animals like pigs, some cattle, chickens and roosters. He loved watching his sons in the farming industry which he instilled in them of planting cotton, corn, sorghum and vegetables. Along with harvesting of cotton,corn and sorghum and purchasing farm tractors and farming equipment at the farm auctions with his sons. He would say, "It's not a farm if you don't have farm equipment".
He will be forever remembered by his 11 Children: Maria Oneida Martinez (Gilbert), Melba Rodriguez, Juan Rodriguez Jr. (Ruby Lee), Rosie Olivarez (Julian Jr.), Yolanda Purdon (David), Joe Rodriguez (Rachel), Manuel Rodriguez (Rosalinda), Nina Rhodes (Harold), Harvey Rodriguez, Malissa Prieto (Arturo), and Michael Rodriguez (Sonia), as well as his siblings Aurora Garcia (Joel), Amelia Salas, Oralia Mondragon, Manuel Rodriguez, Maria Perez (Margarito), Jesus Rodriguez (Noelia), and his 26 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, 1 great- great grandchild and Ninfa's sweet companion pet/dog, Snowball.
He is preceded in death by his parents, spouse Ninfa L. Rodriguez, Siblings Guadalupe Kleveland, Alonzo Rodriguez Sr., Emilia Castillo, and Nephews.
Honored to serve as pallbearers, his grandsons:
Julian Olivarez III
Michael Rodriguez
Eric Rodriguez
Shane Rodriguez
Justin Rhodes
John Acosta
Honorary pallbearers, his five sons:
Juan Rodriguez Jr.
Joe Rodriguez
Manuel Rodriguez
Harvey Rodriguez
Michael Rodriguez Sr.
A visitation for Juan will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 12:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. with a second day of visitation on Monday, October 16, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home 26873 N. White Ranch Road, La Feria, Texas 78559. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 101 San Antonio Ave, Santa Rosa, TX. A burial will occur Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Heavenly Grace Memorial Park, 26873 N. White Ranch Road, La Feria, Texas 78559.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heavenlygracergv.com for the Rodriguez family.
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