Jose Enrique "Poppi" Gonzalez, Sr.

Jose Enrique Gonzalez, “Poppi”, born in Lincoln, Nebraska on December3, 1926, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2020, the second eldest child born to parents Santiago Gomez Gonzalez and Dolores Gonzalez Cueva of Tenamaxtlan, Jalisco, Mexico. He endured dementia for only 6 months but remained strong to the very end.

His parents, along with his father’s wife, 2 uncles and grandmother had immigrated to Nebraska in 1911 to work the fields and then became employed by the Southern and Pacific Railroad in 1915. Poppi was born in Nebraska during the time they were in the USA. After a work shortage during the start of the depression, Poppi, at age 3 along with his family, returned to Mexico to continue their farming.

Poppi’s family became successful in the farming/cattle/corn/poultry business, owning 3 farms in 3 local small towns. His father became active in civic activities as a city councilman and as a businessman, owning a town store offering leather goods, along with Poppi’s grandmother, who also owned her own general goods store. He had to not only do farming, raising crops, tending cows, but also helping at the store with his dad’s leather goods. The store buildings still stand, having become different stores, and then restored houses.

Poppi became a “tax collector” for his father’s business at around age 10, traveling to nearby towns on horseback carrying a gun to collect dues and taxed owed his father, until one day he ran into 12 Revolutionaries/banditos and decided to quit that line of work. Having his fill of hard work on family farms, he “ran away” around the age of 15-17 to come to the USA, never realizing he could have just walked across as a born USA citizen but had tried to walk across the El Paso bridge. His cousin mailed him his birth certificate and he then walked across as a legal citizen.

He was able to find work in 1946 with the Texas and Pacific Railroad, until his retirement from the Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific Railroads in December 1986, after 38+ years. He met his lovely wife Helen “Elena” Medellin during the time they both lived in box cars on the railroad and ran away to get married before his boss found out he had taken away the boss’ cook! His family traveled around Western Texas from far west Texas towns like Van Horn, Midland, Odessa, Big Springs, Abilene to East Texas towns like Longview into Alexandra, Louisiana, in railroad box cars provided by Texas and Pacific Railroad from 1950-1958, when he settled his family, buying a little house in Weatherford, Texas. His kids were known as “box car” kids when they traveled around with him and came home only when he was not working on weekends, and long distances from home. Hence, Poppi never had entertained hobbies but when home, worked around his beloved house and property. His enjoyable times were when he traveled with his family through West Texas, showing the family railroad life, until his wife’s early passing in 1983 and then his retirement in 1986. Poppi’s favorite pastimes were being friendly to all, being very outgoing and social to family, friends, and strangers alike, and enjoyed his “second career” for many years as a popcorn maker at Chase Bank!

Poppi established his family at St. Stephen Catholic Church as lifelong Catholics, and remained a lifelong member, being a humble man from poor origins, and knowing Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Survivors: Children Jose E. Gonzalez, Jr. and wife Pam of Houston, Jerry Gonzalez and wife Cathy of Benbrook, Delores Cruce of Benbrook, Roy Gonzalez of Weatherford, Michael Gonzalez of Ft. Worth; longtime friend, Guadalupe “Lupe” Jimenez of Weatherford; grandchildren, JJ Gonzalez and wife Brittaney, Drew Gonzalez, Kendall Gonzalez and Daniel, Lyndsey Slaton and husband Wade, Nathan Gonzalez and wife Brittany and Kevin Gonzalez and wife Bethany, Felecia Low and husband Michael; great grandchildren, Witten, Landry, Wyatt, Witt, Eve, Ward, Chloe, Lucas, Micah, Elena and Sevina; and numerous cousins and friends.

Jose was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen Medellin Gonzalez; sisters, Hermalinda Cueva and Esther Cueva Perez; brother, Andres Gonzalez Cueva; granddaughter, Jamie Cruce; son-in-law, Jerald Cruce as well as his second wife, Ruby Cruce Gonzalez.