MANUEL Joseph RODRIGUEZ

Manuel J. Rodriguez was born in Bakersfield February 17, 1924 to Aurelio and Jesusita Rodriguez, and passed away on April 8, 2024 at 100 years of age!   He was the second child of 13, and attended a one room elementary school on Union Avenue, Lincoln Jr. High and graduating in 1942 from Kern High School (BHS).  He then was drafted into the military during WWII and served in the infantry in the European Theater, where he earned the rank of Master Sergeant.  Upon returning home at the end of the war Manuel met the love of his life, Teresa Cervantes, at a local dance.  They married at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in 1951 and had 6 children, 12 grandchildren and was super grandpa to 12 great grandchildren.  Manuel worked for the Kern High School District for 35 years as an auto mechanic.  He was an active member of CSEA and was Chapter President at one time, a true believer in the power and necessity of unions.   There was also nothing Manuel couldn’t fix.  He was hardworking and passed that trait onto his children and grandchildren.  After a hard day’s work Teresa always prepared a delicious home cooked meal for him.  We often would hear our Mom say “Your father had double dessert.  I told him he could have cookies or pie and he had both!”

After retirement he took up golf, scoring two holes-in-one.  He tended his tomatoes, orange, peach and pecan trees and his immaculate rose garden.  You knew you were special to him if he shared his harvest with you, or gave you a special batch of his roasted pecans.  He loved betting on the ponies and playing the lottery.  He was a long time member of St. Francis Church and served as an usher for many years.  Manuel participated in Honor Flight in October 2013.   Manuel and Teresa were always at their children’s sports games, music performances or other school activities.  Manuel did not hesitate to volunteer to drive the Boy or Girl Scouts to outings or to take school clubs to various activities.  They were regular spectators at their grandkids and great grandkids sporting events, when they received special awards or were in school plays or other activities.  They attended parades that their kids or grandkids were in, cheering them on from the sidelines.  He loved his large extended family.  

Manuel was preceded in death by his wife Teresa, they were just months short of completing 70 years of marriage when she passed away in 2021.   He was also preceded in death by his great granddaughter Aubrey Mendoza, his parents, brothers Jack (Faye), Pete (Adeline), Junior (Olga), and Bobby, sisters Mary (Angel) Chavez, Sarah (Mike) Mojica, Beatrice (Alfonso) Marquez, and Rita, in-laws Francisca (Ignacio), Socorro (Mary), Ignacio, Frank, Jess, Baudilia Cervantes, Fernando Valdes, Pete Mesa, Rudy Meyer, Ray Ortiz, Don Stevenson.  Manuel is survived by sisters Pauline Mesa, Blodgie Meyer, Delores Ruiz, and Mary Ortiz.  He is also survived by his children, Alfred (Marlene), Richard (Cheryl), Alice (Ben), Steve (Mona), Eddie (Monica), Susie (Dino), his grandchildren; Anthony (Shelly), Richie (Megan), Lauren, Colin (Christine), Stephanie, Angela (Tate), Gabi, Robert, Kelly, Johnny (Christina), Gaby and Annie (Andy) and his great grandchildren, Colton, Stella, Kylie, Scarlett, John, Eli, Duke and Lincoln, Chloe, Penny and June.  Manuel is also survived by his sister in-laws Mary Valdes and Petra Cervantes and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins by the dozens!

Thank you to his hospice nurses Jami, Amanda, and Alex, to his Drs. Madrilejo, Puga, and Mui, who all provided our Dad extraordinary care.  Special thanks to his nephew, Bubba Rodriguez for providing his muscles and help during the past few months.  A special thanks to neighbors Bill and Debbie Seabourn for all your love and support of our parents throughout the years, also to Leticia David and Angelina Esparza.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Building Fund, 4600 E Brundage Lane 93307, or Honor Flight Kern County, 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite M-10 Box 255, 93311.  In his honor, spend time with your family, have a chorizo con huevos or pancake breakfast, a double dessert tonight for dinner and play the lottery!

Manuel’s services will be on April 22 at St Francis Church 900 H Street beginning with a rosary at 9:30 a.m., celebration of the Mass at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial at Union Cemetery, 730 Potomac Avenue.