Heraclio "Aco" Gonzalez

On the afternoon of September 27, 2023, Aco passed away peacefully at Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Shoreline as a result of a heart attack which occurred 5 days prior. His loving wife of 50 years was by his side at the time of his passing. He was 74 years old.  Aco Gonzalez was born on September 11, 1949, in La Parrita, Texas. He was the second son and child of Julia Molina and Domingo Gonzalez; he had seven brothers and five sisters.

Aco graduated from William Adams high school in Alice, Texas in 1968. In July 1969, he joined the United States Air Force, in which he served for six years and was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement. He met the love of his life, Rosa Castro, in Alice in 1973, and they were married six months later.

Aco worked as a jet engine mechanic at Naval Air Station Kingsville under various contractors for over 20 years before he retired with Rolls-Royce in 2015.  He was a renaissance man and a jack of all trades who enjoyed many hobbies in his lifetime. He was a welder, an avid hunter and fisherman, and an award-winning barbecue pitmaster. He also had a green thumb and in his later years kept a nursery of plants in the patio of his home. He would often sing Tejano and classic country songs for his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Aco was beloved by his family, friends, and all who met him. He was a man with a strong presence, an excellent sense of humor, and a generous sense of compassion.

He was preceded in death by his father, Domingo Gonzalez; and brother Norberto Gonzalez.

Among those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Rosa Gonzalez; children, Veronica Zandra Gonzalez, Julia Olivia (Arnold) Perez, and Heraclio Gonzalez, Jr.; grandchildren, Arnie Perez, George Henley, and Estela Rosa Perez; beloved dog, Daisy; mother, Julia Gonzalez; and siblings, Idalia (Lloyd) Luera, Raquel (David) Tamez, Domingo (Minerva) Gonzalez, Emede (Nora) Gonzalez, Dagoberto (Dora) Gonzalez, Mauricio (Belen) Gonzalez, Marisela (Steve) Pillet, Jaime (Linda) Gonzalez, Marcial (Velinda) Gonzalez, Ada (Charles) Stansell, and Marina Gonzalez.

The family will receive condolences from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary in Kingsville, Texas; with a holy rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church.  A rite of committal and interment with full military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi.

Aco loved his God, his country, and his family; he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.