Nicolas R. Sanchez

Nicolas R. "Nick" Sanchez of St. Charles for more than 50 years A Mass for Nicolas R. "Nick" Sanchez, 85, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, at St. Patrick Church, 408 Cedar St., St. Charles. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, St. Charles. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Norris Funeral Home, 100 S. Third St., St. Charles. Born May 22, 1919, in Del Rio, Texas, the son of Elijio M. and Elena (Reyes) Sanchez, he died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, at Provena Pine View Care Center in St. Charles. During World War II, Nick was a sergeant in the 91st Reconnaissance Division, for three years under the leadership of General George S. Patton. The Texas native arrived in Casablanca in French Morocco on Christmas Eve in 1942, and proceeded east through Algeria with the 2nd Division. Under General Patton's command, they pursued German commander Gen. Erwin Rommel's forces through northwestern Africa and was in Milan, Italy, in time to see deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini hanging in the town square in 1945. As a member of a lead team of soldiers in the division, he engaged the Germans in several battle campaigns and was awarded six Bronze Stars for valor in the field. Nick served with James Gaffney of St. Charles in Italy and the two became close friends. After the war, Nick lived with the Gaffney's for about nine months and worked for Moline Malleable in St. Charles. He then returned to Texas, where he was united in marriage to the former Carmen Arredondo, on December 29, 1946. He worked for Moline for 24 years and retired from the company in 1971. He was a life member and past commander of the St. Charles VFW Post #5036, a member of the St. Charles American Legion #342 and a life member of Loyal Order of Moose in St. Charles since 1951. He served as an assistant scout master with Troop #1 and was awarded the District Award of Merit in 1962. Mr. Sanchez is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carmen; his children, Jerry (Linda) Sanchez of St. Charles, Martha (Dr. George) Cozzolino of Lake DeLavan, Felix Sanchez of St. Charles and Nicholas (Sue) Sanchez of St. Charles; four grandsons, Javier Sanchez, Tony, Rick and Greg Cozzolino; and two granddaughters, Ellicia and Estee Sanchez; two sisters, Maria Elena Gomez of Geneva and Rosa Elia Hipolito of Del Rio, Texas; four brothers, Andres Sanchez of El Paso, Benito Sanchez of Del Valle, Texas, and Julian (Lupe) Sanchez and Ricardo (Carmen) Sanchez, both of Del Rio, Texas. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Tomasa Cuellar and Felix Cardenas and a brother, Castulo Sanchez. Contributions in Mr. Sanchez's memory may be made to Mooseheart, 3S300 South Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL 60510. For information, (630)584-2000.