Gene Hernan Gonzalez

GENE HERNAN GONZALEZ EDINBURG - Gene Hernan Gonzalez passed away June 10, 2013, in Seal Beach, California. He was born October 21, 1980, in McAllen, Texas, to Israel Gonzalez, Jr. (Jr.) and Keilah Caro-Shatzberger. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Israel C. Gonzalez, Sr.; and maternal grandparents, Willie and Armandina Langley, Jr. He graduated from Edinburg High School (Class of 1999) and attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He served in the United States Air Force from 2002 to 2008 where he received certifications to be a firefighter, EMT paramedic and a HAZ- Mat handler. He then used these certifications to subcontract in Iraq and Afghanistan after his six year term. Gene lived his life to the fullest and was very passionate about spending time with family, hunting, fishing, riding horses and water sports at the beach. He did everything whole heartedly and always with a smile. We are blessed to have had Gene in our lives for 32 years and are certain that he continues to live his life to the fullest with our Father in Heaven. Gene leaves behind his father, Israel (Mary) Gonzalez, Jr.; his mother, Keilah (Yonah Shatzberger) Caro-Shatzberger; paternal grandmother, Aguedita Gonzalez; three stepsisters, Monica, Marissa and Michelle; a stepbrother, Joey; maternal and paternal aunts and uncles, Juan (Rosie) Escobar, Melba Perkins, Rudy Gonzalez, Rosa Maria Flores, Eloisa Barrera, Myriam Caro, Joel (Velma) Rios, Angel (Cindy) Villanueva, Billy (Sal) Langley, Omar (Terry) Escobar and numerous cousins. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service today, June 23, 2013, at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 8788 of McAllen. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.