Fidel Jimenez, Sr.

Born December 25, 1929, in Paxico, Kansas, to Luis and Maria Jimenez and raised in Union Pacific Railroad boxcar housing in Williamstown, Kansas. He attended Williamstown Elementary School through the 8 ^th grade. His family moved to Lawrence after the family’s boxcar house was abandoned because of a flood.

He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad from 1947 until he retired in 1985. In retirement, he worked part-time for Dillions delivering, pharmacy orders, flowers and party balloons.

Fidel Sr. was a skilled musician who played mandolin and later the drums. He performed in bands at dances, weddings, anniversaries, baptisms and other joyous occasions in Lawrence, Topeka, and surrounding Mexican American communities. His bands played both Mexican and Country Western music.

He married Rosa Bermudez in 1948. She predeceased him on December 30, 1992. They were happily married for 44 years and raised a son, Fidel Jimenez Jr., who was born on January 4, 1949. He survives his father at his residence west of Lawrence. Fidel Jr. has been happily married to Janet (Ray) Jimenez for 54 years.

Fidel Sr. is survived by a sister, Virginia Romero of Lawrence, Mary (Jimenez) Knowles of Fernley, Nevada, and a brother Johnny Jimenez of Oklahoma City, and was predeceased by a brother Joe Jimenez of Kansas City, Kansas.

Other family survivors include two grandchildren Brian Lee Jimenez (wife, Kelley) and Michelle Kay (Jimenez) Miller; six great grandchildren Jakeb Jimenez, Olivia, Jimenez, Jude Jimenez; Andrew Miller, Alexis Miller, and Austin Miller; and one great-great granddaughter Lainey Addison Miller.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, Kansas.

Memorial Mass for Fidel Jimenez Sr will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday October 1, 2021, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Fidel passed away on Thursday September 23, 2021, at his son’s home. Inurnment of Fidel Sr’s ashes will take place at a later date at Mt Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Lawrence.

A reception will be held immediately after the funeral mass.