Rev. M. R. Gonzales, Minister, Jerome Methodist Church 1943-1953

Marceliano Recaredo Gonzalez

  Marceliano Recaredo Gonzalez, son of Joe Felipe and Rosa Rafaela Torres Gonzales, was born September 2, 1900, at Lares, Puerto Rico. He received his high school education at San German, Puerto Rico. He came to this country at the age of 19 on a scholarship to Ellsworth College, Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he received his A.B. degree in 1922. He then continued his education at the State University of Iowa where he received his M.A. degree in 1926. He continued work there towards his Ph.D. while teaching one year in the Romance Languages Department. The next year he taught at the State University of Kansas at Lawrence but was recalled by the State University of Iowa where he taught until 1930. After that he taught at DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, for two years.

  He was married to Wanda Marie Heninger of Martinsburg, Iowa, June 2, 1928. One daughter, Portia Ann, was born to them, currently a student at Parsons College.

  Mr. Gonzales entered the ministry in September, 1938, just past the age when he could become a member of the conference. He took the conference course of study and was ordained Deacon in 1944 and Elder in 1946. He served the following churches as an approved supply: Mystic, Brazil, Mystic-Brazil-Plano, Mystic-Jerome, Mystic-Plano, Barnes City and Packwood-Pekin.

  He passed away at his home in Packwood, February 22, 1960, following a heart attack. Memorial services were held at the Packwood Methodist Church, February 25, with the Reverend Everett Staats, district superintendent; the Reverend J. Henry Teele, pastor at Fairfield, and the Reverend Richard Clifford of the Packwood Christian Church officiating. Masonic services were held at the Methodist Church at Mystic in charage of Gerald Densmore of Centerville, with the pastor, the Reverend Glen Lockwood, and the Reverend Everett Staats participating. Burial was at the Highland Cemetery at Mystic. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star at Mystic.

  M. R. was truly a friend of God and a friend of all mankind.

  Besides his wife and daughter he leaves four sisters: Miss Rosa A. Gonzales of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Manuela de Rivera of Caparr Heights, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Elmina do Colon of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, and Miss Virginia Gonzalez of San Sabastian, Puerto Rico, and two brothers, sr. Alfredo Gonzales Torres of Santurce, Puerto Rico, and Angel F. Gonzalez of Miami, Florida.

----------------------------

  Transcribed from the 1960 South Iowa Annual Conference Report of the Methodist Church, pages 201-202.