Obituary for Jose Montes
Jose Torres Montes, 02/14/1937 - 07/11/2020
Jose Montes passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home in Eden, WI. He was a man you could not help but to like, to love and never forget. Jose was born in the small town of Romita, Guanajuato, Mexico. At eight years old he quickly took on the role of the man of the house when he lost his father, Modesto Montes Sr. In Mexico he supported his family as a mechanic for a tire shop and drove for a bus company called Los Camiones Azules naming his bus, La Paloma (The Dove). At the age of eighteen, he moved to Texas where Jose worked as a farmhand then made his way to Wisconsin. Jose worked at Ruepings Leather Company for seventeen years and afterward delivered for Florence Eisemann. His true passion was working, with his son by his side, as a mechanic day and night in his garage, Montes & Son Small Engine Repair. Where it was said, “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix”.
Jose had a great joy for life. From singing, playing baseball, boxing, bird watching and his big heart and respect for any living creature. Meaning you never knew when he would come home with a stray dog or two, a goat, tons of rabbits, or feed the raccoon in the backyard, or the stray cats that wandered his way. His animals were well fed and spoiled, he even hand-fed his favorite cats rotisserie chicken.
As a young man, he taught himself how to play the guitar and had a strong, beautiful, controlled, Mariachi voice. At many events, people waited anxiously for Jose to pull out his guitar and entertain his family and friends with his magical voice, a voice that could be never replicated or forgotten.
Mi casa es Su casa was something Jose may have never said but he lived it. Jose knew how hard life could be and didn’t like to see anyone struggle. He wouldn’t think twice about giving you a meal, a place to sleep, fixing your car for free, helping a stranger on the side of the road or welcoming many families to stay until they had a home of their own. You couldn't help to feel blessed with his generosity, his joy and his hospitality.
Jose had many talents, strengths, accomplishments, great integrity and a sense of humor. His greatest achievement was his family. Jose had 2 daughters from his first marriage. December 19, 1969, he married Maria Louisa Valdez, they had 4 daughters and one son. Besides loving his wife, daughters and son, he had a tremendous love for his grandchildren. Each one had a special place in his heart and each one had a unique nickname or saying that belonged only to them.
We asked him about his life once and he said he couldn't just tell you about his life. "My life has many stories, what story do you want to hear?"
We want his last story to be about how much we loved him. What we want to do is celebrate his life! There will be a small gathering on Saturday, July 18, 2020, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at the home of his daughter in Eden, next to Eden Stone Company.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Montes (Valdez). His children Carmen Montes, Raquel Jasso, Maria Anjelita Rodenkirch (Todd), Paula Hernandez (Miguel), Modesto Montes, Juana Montes-Hernandez (Florencio) and Teresa Villarreal (Jose). His grandchildren Leticia Montes, Juan Jasso, Rogelio Jasso Jr (Veronica), Oscar Jasso, Alex Witzke, Marissa Jones (Maxwell), Miguel Hernandez-Montes, Jose Hernandez-Montes, Victoria Montes, Isabel Hernandez, Alex Hernandez, Elena Hernandez, Natalie Villarreal, and Evangelina Villarreal, and six great-grandchildren. His sister Lucina Salinas, and many Aviña / Salinas nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his father, Modesto Montes, mother, Angela Torres, sister Teresa Aviña, father-in-law, Pedro Valdez, and mother-in-law, Juanita Valdez.
The family wants to give a special thanks to St. Croix Hospice. Thank you so much for your excellent and very loving care for our father, Jose Montes. Your help was much needed and at the most critical time. Watching your loved one go through their final journey is hard but our St. Croix family’s knowledge, compassion, guidance, and patience helped us through. We deeply appreciate your expertise and personal involvement. Words cannot begin to express our heartfelt gratitude to Becky, Jillian, Chaplain Kevin, Jonathan, Shannon, and Katlyn. Each and every one of the staff including the on call nurses and Nurse Practitioners that we worked with will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank you.
Jose Montes passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home in Eden, WI. He was a man you could not help but to like, to love and never forget. Jose was born in the small town of Romita, Guanajuato, Mexico. At eight years old he quickly took on the role of the man of the house when he lost his father, Modesto Montes Sr. In Mexico he supported his family as a mechanic for a tire shop and drove for a bus company called Los Camiones Azules naming his bus, La Paloma (The Dove). At the age of eighteen, he moved to Texas where Jose worked as a farmhand then made his way to Wisconsin. Jose worked at Ruepings Leather Company for seventeen years and afterward delivered for Florence Eisemann. His true passion was working, with his son by his side, as a mechanic day and night in his garage, Montes & Son Small Engine Repair. Where it was said, “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix”.
Jose had a great joy for life. From singing, playing baseball, boxing, bird watching and his big heart and respect for any living creature. Meaning you never knew when he would come home with a stray dog or two, a goat, tons of rabbits, or feed the raccoon in the backyard, or the stray cats that wandered his way. His animals were well fed and spoiled, he even hand-fed his favorite cats rotisserie chicken.
As a young man, he taught himself how to play the guitar and had a strong, beautiful, controlled, Mariachi voice. At many events, people waited anxiously for Jose to pull out his guitar and entertain his family and friends with his magical voice, a voice that could be never replicated or forgotten.
Mi casa es Su casa was something Jose may have never said but he lived it. Jose knew how hard life could be and didn’t like to see anyone struggle. He wouldn’t think twice about giving you a meal, a place to sleep, fixing your car for free, helping a stranger on the side of the road or welcoming many families to stay until they had a home of their own. You couldn't help to feel blessed with his generosity, his joy and his hospitality.
Jose had many talents, strengths, accomplishments, great integrity and a sense of humor. His greatest achievement was his family. Jose had 2 daughters from his first marriage. December 19, 1969, he married Maria Louisa Valdez, they had 4 daughters and one son. Besides loving his wife, daughters and son, he had a tremendous love for his grandchildren. Each one had a special place in his heart and each one had a unique nickname or saying that belonged only to them.
We asked him about his life once and he said he couldn't just tell you about his life. "My life has many stories, what story do you want to hear?"
We want his last story to be about how much we loved him. What we want to do is celebrate his life! There will be a small gathering on Saturday, July 18, 2020, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at the home of his daughter in Eden, next to Eden Stone Company.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Montes (Valdez). His children Carmen Montes, Raquel Jasso, Maria Anjelita Rodenkirch (Todd), Paula Hernandez (Miguel), Modesto Montes, Juana Montes-Hernandez (Florencio) and Teresa Villarreal (Jose). His grandchildren Leticia Montes, Juan Jasso, Rogelio Jasso Jr (Veronica), Oscar Jasso, Alex Witzke, Marissa Jones (Maxwell), Miguel Hernandez-Montes, Jose Hernandez-Montes, Victoria Montes, Isabel Hernandez, Alex Hernandez, Elena Hernandez, Natalie Villarreal, and Evangelina Villarreal, and six great-grandchildren. His sister Lucina Salinas, and many Aviña / Salinas nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his father, Modesto Montes, mother, Angela Torres, sister Teresa Aviña, father-in-law, Pedro Valdez, and mother-in-law, Juanita Valdez.
The family wants to give a special thanks to St. Croix Hospice. Thank you so much for your excellent and very loving care for our father, Jose Montes. Your help was much needed and at the most critical time. Watching your loved one go through their final journey is hard but our St. Croix family’s knowledge, compassion, guidance, and patience helped us through. We deeply appreciate your expertise and personal involvement. Words cannot begin to express our heartfelt gratitude to Becky, Jillian, Chaplain Kevin, Jonathan, Shannon, and Katlyn. Each and every one of the staff including the on call nurses and Nurse Practitioners that we worked with will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank you.