Jesse Vasquez, passed away peacefully Wednesday December 27, 2000 at 2 p.m. in his place of residence the YMCA in Niles, IL. Jesse was born December 26, 1922 in a little town, Jerome Arizona. Jesse was from a family of nine and graduated from high school in Jerome Arizona. It was in Jerom where he excelled in sports, boxing, wrestling, track, basketball, football and baseball. World War Two was raging so Jesse enrolled in a school for welders, upon finshing school he began a job as a welder in the ship yard in Richmond California. Shortly there after he got his draft notice and enlisted in the Army Air Force going to the Pacific Theatre and serving as a radio and gunman in a B29 Bobmer. With all the air raids they made, only once did they come close to danger, their plane hit a mountain. Miraculously all survived. After leaving the service, Jesse kind of toured the country ending up in Chicago. While in Chicago he established an awning business and made Chicago his home. On November 25, 1948 Jesse took the Lord into his heart, serving the Lord for 52 years until the last moment, his faith never wavering. His constant companion was his Bible, always in his hand. Jesse had many, many friends. Everywhere he went he befriended people, especially children, sending them to school and envolving them in sports. He spent much time with poor families getting them jobs or whatever they needed. His church was the Moody Bible Institute where he worshipped. We will miss our dear brother very much and happy at the same time he finally got his wish, to be with the Lord. Amen.
