Arturo Gonzalez Jr.

Arturo Gonzalez Jr.

SEDALIA — Arturo Gonzalez Jr., 95, of Cole Camp, died Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Sedalia. He was born on July 28, 1922, in El Paso, Texas, a son of Arturo and Reynalda (Terrazas) Gonzalez, Sr.

He was baptized on October 22, 1922, at Iglesia del Santo Angel in El Paso, Texas. From an early age, he was raised by his step-mother, Juana Gonzalez who was "Mom" to him.

From 1942 - 1946, he served his country honorably in the United States Navy during World War II. He was then transferred to the United States Navy Reserves, being discharged on November 16, 1953. On December 28, 1946, at El Paso, Texas, he was united in marriage to Alejandrina "Rue" Munoz. This union was blessed with the gift of two daughters, Rebeca and Leticia.

After his discharge from the Navy, he lived in Hutchinson, KS, and worked as a dental assistant. They then moved to Mount Pleasant, MI, where he attended Michigan State University. By 1951, he had obtained the credits necessary for him to apply for admission to the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1956, he graduated and moved to Clinton to complete his internship at the Wetzel Hospital and Clinic. He worked for three more years in Clinton before moving to Cole Camp in 1960, where he was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He maintained his family medicine practice until "retiring" in 1994.

In 1998, he began volunteering at the Free Community Clinic in Sedalia. During his years of private practice and after, he was on staff at Bothwell Hospital, where he served on various committees, including Chief of Staff. He served as medical director or house physician for Sylvia G. Thompson Residential Center and Rest Haven Convalescent and Retirement Home in Sedalia, Golden Age Nursing Home in Stover, Good Samaritan Care Center in Cole Camp, and the Benton and Pettis County Health Departments.

He was a life-member of the West Central Missouri Osteopathic Association, the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians, where he received the 2001 Distinguished Service Award, which is their highest award, and the American Osteopathic Association. He served on area boards for the American Lung Association and District III Area Agency on Aging (Care Connection).

Being a physician was not just a job, it was who he was. He always showed the utmost concern and care for his patients. His kindness extended to his co-workers as well. He regularly gave much credit to the nurses, technicians, and staff he worked with and always spoke of the importance of treating everyone with respect.

He always gave the most credit to his wife of 65 years, who always encouraged him and never let him give up on his dream of becoming a doctor. Because of all the help they received throughout the years, he and Rue placed a high degree of importance on helping people who needed it, especially those who showed an interest in the medical field. They definitely payed it forward.

He was devoted to his wife and daughters, and was always a steady source of support and guidance. He passed on much love to them, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his entire family. Amazingly, he found time to pursue several hobbies, such as reading, painting, woodworking, and especially photography, as a charter member of the Mid-Missouri Print and Slide Club.

His life truly was an example of patience and kindness, giving of himself to the service of others, a faithful and loving man. He touched many lives and is greatly missed.

He is survived by: two daughters, Rebeca Simmons and her husband Pat of Olathe, Kansas, and Leticia Harms and her husband Scott of Mora; a sister, Virginia Velez of Chino Valley, Arizona; five brothers, Rudy, Ralph, John, Felix, and Alfred Gonzalez, all of El Paso, Texas; three grandchildren, Andrew Harms, Aaron Harms and his wife Geni, Nina Musto; two great-grandsons, Mason Musto and Brycen Harms; a great-granddaughter, Renley Harms; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arturo and Reynalda Gonazlez and Juana Gonzalez, his wife, Alejandrina "Rue" Gonzalez, a sister Delfina Romero, two brothers, Pete Gonzalez and Frank Gonzalez, and a grandson, Nikolas Musto.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2017, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cole Camp with Father Alex Ekka officiating. Burial will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Cole Camp with military honors by the American Legion Post No. 305 of Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Sunday at the church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Cole Camp Senior Center, or The Wetzel Scholarship Foundation in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.