Obituary of Apolonio O. Rodriguez

With great sorrow and bittersweet gratitude, the Rodriguez family announce the sudden passing of our kind, brave, caring, and unimaginably generous father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and friend, Apolonio O. Rodríguez, born on April 10, 1929, in Tomball, Texas, passed away on May 13, 2023.

 After moving around the United States and working in agriculture, he eventually settled in Nyssa, OR, where he established a home and community. Apolonio brought his wife, Cruz Rodriguez, and their five boys from Mexico to reunite and make Nyssa their permanent home. It is here where many of their memories were created. Apolonio worked as a Bureau of Land Management Firefighter in Vale, Oregon, for many summers, and he took pride in seeing his sons follow in his footsteps. He considered them his greatest achievements. Additionally, he worked seasonally at the Amalgamated Sugar factory before becoming a full-time employee until retirement. Apolonio was never scared to take on new opportunities and did everything with honesty and integrity. He had very strong values and was well-liked by everyone, mostly due to his positive energy. The family was of utmost importance to Apolonio, and he took immense pride in their accomplishments. In his later years, he enjoyed fishing and spent his retirement tending to his garden, as was evident every time you drove by his house, where he grew vegetables and flowers. Apolonio was known for his resourcefulness and vast knowledge gained through a lifetime of experiences in agriculture, firefighting, and gardening.

His legacy will continue forever, reminding us that we control our attitudes. We choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us.

Apolonio is survived by his sons José Luis G. Rodríguez (Seattle, WA) and wife Gloria, Fernando G. Rodriguez (Mexico), Tomas G. Rodriguez (Nyssa, OR), and wife Melba. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and their spouses, seventeen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. 

Preceding him in death was his beloved wife, Cruz Rodriguez, whom he cherished as his soulmate, their son Apolonio Rodríguez (Polo), Gaspar Elias Rodríguez (Elias), and grandson Andrew Garcia.

On May 19, 2023, Apolonio was laid to rest. He will be fondly remembered for the love and kindness he shared with his friends and family. His deep affection for them was evident to everyone who knew him. Apolonio will be greatly missed, but his memory will forever live on in our hearts. Te queremos mucho.