Antonio "Tony" Gonzalez Jr.

1949 - 2018

Weslaco - Antonio "Tony" Gonzalez, Jr., 69, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family early Friday, June 8, 2018 after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Weslaco, Texas, on January 29, 1949 to Antonio and Benilde Gonzalez. He graduated from Weslaco High School in 1969. In January 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Olga Gonzalez, whom he met in 1966. They had three children-Joanna, Lorie Ann, and Antonio Gonzalez III. Although Tony did not attend college, he was the driving force behind his wife and children earning their undergraduate and graduate degrees. He was very proud of their accomplishments. Tony was not a man of many words, but he was known to many as a compassionate and hardworking man. Some of the jobs he held were field worker, cook at Street's Chicken, garbage collector for the city of Weslaco, employee at Goodyear Tires, painter alongside his brother and father at Antonio Gonzalez & Sons, produce stocker at H-E-B, and the last twenty-six years as a sandblasting/painting foreman for offshore drilling corporations. Tony gave back to his community by serving as a volunteer fireman from the 1970s to the 1980s and as a baseball and football coach for various teams in Little League and the Weslaco Youth Football League. Throughout his life, he and his wife have rescued hundreds of animals for whom they have provided food and shelter. In his lifetime, he was someone to many people-uncle, brother-in-law, brother, son, co-worker, and friend. To his wife and children, Tony was everything, and his passing has left a huge void for his family who loves him dearly and will miss him greatly. Thank you, Dad, for all the sacrifices you made, so that we can be who we are today. From his wife, "I will always love you, Earl." We find comfort in knowing you are at home with the Lord and that we will be with you again one day. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Alicia C. Gonzalez. He is survived by his wife, three children, his brother Eliberto (Gloria) Gonzalez, and numerous pets. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 10, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Monday, June 11, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary on Monday at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Weslaco on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with interment at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco following the mass. Pallbearers will be Cruz Esquivel III, Cruz Esquivel IV, Mario Gonzalez, Ramiro Gonzalez, Domingo Jasso, Sr. and Israel Verver, Jr. Arrangements are under the direction of Guerra Funeral Home of Weslaco, Inc., 2602 N. Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX (956) 969-1461.