Calixto I. Mondragon, 98, passed away on Dec. 30 at his residence. He was born on October 14, 1920 in Ixtlahuaca de Rayon, Mexico to the late Juan Mondragón and Micaela Salinas.
He married Reynalda Carreño on July 1, 1950 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Racine. She preceded him in death on December 28, 2002. Calixto became a citizen of the U.S. in 2008.
After working at J.I. Case Company for thirty-seven years, he retired in June of 1984. Prior to that he was recruited by the U.S. Government and came to the United States as a Bracero in 1945, working on the farms after the war. The University of Wisconsin – Madison recognized his hard work, and Calixto’s legal documents and pictures are in the University of Wisconsin Archives.
Calixto was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. He was a big sports enthusiast – especially baseball and fishing. Also, he was a former member of Hoy Audubon Society. Above all else, he cherished spending time with his family.
He will be dearly missed by his daughter, Cristina R. Mondragón of Racine; his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Marisa and Brian Mondragón-Jones of Shorewood; his great-grandchildren, Noah and Siena; his step-grandchildren, Amy (Todd) Kehl, Chris (Shannon) Schantek; brother, Florentino Mondragón; sister, Guadalupe Mondragón ; brother-in-law, Abel Carreño; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends, both in the United States and Mexico. In addition to his parents and wife he was preceded in death by his sons, James and Michael.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated on Saturday, January 5, 2019, 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, located at 6400 Spring St. Friends and relatives can meet with the family from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Private interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park.