Hector Eduardo Rodriguez

Hector Eduardo Rodriguez, Jr., son of Hector Rodriguez, Sr. and Maria Eva Pia, was born August 19, 1986 in Dallas, TX. He grew up and started school in Dallas. As a young boy, he enjoyed visiting the beach and swimming in the ocean. In 2000 Hector moved with his mother to Coon Rapids, IA where he graduated from Coon Rapids Bayard High School in 2004. While in high school Hector enjoyed hanging out with his friends and playing football. After High School he coached a local youth soccer program in Coon Rapids. Following graduation he attended Kirkwood Community College and then Iowa Central Community College, studying to become an athletic trainer, specifically sports neurology. He then lived in Ames before returning to Coon Rapids where he worked for Syngenta. Hector had a passion for traveling. He traveled abroad to both Italy and Germany to visit friends. He especially loved the mountains of Colorado and while on vacation there, a good friend reintroduced him to Marie Newton. Hector and Marie married in Colorado on July 1st, 2013. They made their home in Loveland, CO where Hector enjoyed working on their house and continued to work for Syngenta in Longmont. They enjoyed watching movies, listening to music, reading, hiking and camping in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. It didn't matter what they did, as long as they did it together. They felt very blessed to have found each other and spent many hours dreaming about their future and looked forward to having children one day. People were drawn to Hector's loving way and caring spirit. He had a special way of building friendships. He had a thirst for knowledge and reading that allowed him to connect with people on different levels and engage in endless topics of discussion. Hector had a loving and compassionate heart when it came to animals, especially his beloved dog Petie and their kitten Percy. Although Hector had many passions in his life, nothing was more important to him than his family. He took numerous trips to Texas and Mexico spending time with his many cousins, aunts and uncles. He especially loved to barbeque on the deck with his Mom and Jeff and younger brothers Rudy and Jeffrey and his little sister Jaymee Lynn. Hector and his family belonged to Annunciation Parish in Coon Rapids. He died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, December 28, 2013 in Loveland, CO at the age of 27 years, 4 months and 10 days. Hector was an amazing man who touched many lives and continued this selfless trait after his death by being an organ donor. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Preceding Hector in death are his grandfather Arnulfo Pia; grandmother Alicia Rodriguez; aunt Becky Pina; uncles Enrique Pia, Eddie Rodriguez, Justo Rodriguez; and Marie's father Mark Newton and grandfather Ronald Mingus. He is survived by his wife Marie Newton Rodriguez of Loveland, CO; his mother Eva and husband Jeff Kracht of Coon Rapids, IA; father Hector Rodriguez Sr. and wife Pilar of Salinas, CA; brothers Rudy Rodriguez and Jeffrey Kracht of Coon Rapids, IA; sister Jaymee Kracht of Coon Rapids, IA; grandmother Eva Razo of Mexico; grandfather Justo Rodriguez of Yuma, AZ; mother-in-law Jean and husband Art Marcello of Ankeny, IA; sisters-in-law Kate and husband Matt Frisch of Fort Collins, CO and Sara and husband Justen Downing of Indianola, IA; grandmother-in-law Virgina Mingus of Coon Rapids, IA many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation and Prayers Thursday, January 2, 2014, 4:00 P.M. Rosary 5:00 P.M. Prayer Service 7:00 PM Ohde Funeral Home, Coon Rapids, Iowa Mass of Christian Burial Friday, January 3, 2014, 10:30 A.M. Annunciation Church Coon Rapids, Iowa Celebrant Reverend Andrew Hoffmann Deacon Louie Meiners Lector Yadira Garcia Gift Bearers Jeffrey Kracht Rudy Rodriguez Music "Amazing Grace" "On Eagle's Wings" "Be Not Afraid" "Hail Mary" Annunciation Choir Faye Seidl, Accompanist Casket Bearers Rudy Rodriguez Jesse Garcia, Jr. Jaime Rodriguez Miguel Noyola Ryan McAlister Justen Downing Interment Annunciation Cemetery Coon Rapids, Iowa