Apolonio Rodriguez

MADISON/ SAN ANTONIO - Apolonio Tobias "Rod" Rodriguez, age 81, passed away on Monday evening, Nov. 26, 2012.

He was born on April 10, 1931, in Jonah, Texas, the son of Rafael and Refugia Rodriguez. Rod served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. His younger years were spent in San Antonio, Texas. He had many jobs - always the hard worker - selling newspapers, shining shoes and summers spent picking cotton in Arizona with his mother. He also did wallpapering and painting at the Blue Bonnet Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. He joined the Air Force, held the position of staff sergeant and was later transferred to Truax Field in Madison, Wis. After Truax he took a job as a steam plant operator at Forest Products Laboratory and worked there for 35 years. He also worked at the renowned Plaza Tavern. Rod married the love of his life, Herminia Becerril on Jan. 5, 1952. They were married 60 years. Herminia looks back upon her marriage with gratitude and love.

Rod served as an elder in the original Spanish congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Madison, Wis. Rod enjoyed helping others who were in need and gave generously of his time and support. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed watching baseball as well as his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers.

He is survived by his son, Ruben Guzman (Kathy) of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; and his three daughters, Rebecca Rodriguez (David Vogel) of Madison, Deborah Rodriguez (German Herrera) of San Rafael, Calif., and Elizabeth Rodriguez (Vader) of San Francisco, Calif.; his grandchildren, Paul Guzman of Fairfax, Calif., Amanda Fusco of Huntersville, N.C., Cassie Kneebone of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Alexis Vogel of San Francisco, Calif.; his great-grandchildren, Corben, Delilah, Moon, Tyler; and he was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Paul; and three sisters, Davi, Genoveva and Monica.

A funeral service will be at 4 p.m. and a visitation service will follow until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at the KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES at 4545 East Buckeye Road, Madison, Wis.