The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition OBITUARIES Obituaries, April 3, 2006 DEATH NOTICES THELMA WEEKS, 86, of Brownsville, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, April 2, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center- Brownsville. Funeral arrangements are pending and have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., (956) 546-7111. NATIVIDAD RODRIGUEZ, 80, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at his residence in Brownsville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today Monday, April 3, 2006. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guerrea Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Road, (956) 544-1171. ELISEO MATA, 45, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at his residence in Brownsville. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Guerra Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Road, (956) 544-1171. JOSE P GARCIA, 78, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. He was a Brownsville native and lifelong resident. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Joe I. Trevino, Garza Memorial Funeral Home, 1025 E. Jackson St., (956) 542-5511. CHARLES JAMES MARGENAU Charles James Margenau entered into eternal rest with the Lord on March 31, 2006, in Harlingen, Texas. He was 90 years old. Charles Margenau was born in Gann Valley, South Dakota, on July 18, 1915, to Franz Heinrich Margenau and Julia Lappenbusch. He was one of twelve children in the family. He lived in South Dakota until the age of five, when his parents moved to Brownsville to farm. Charlie helped his family at the farm by doing different jobs. He did repairs on all the farm equipment, planted and picked crops, and when his father was ill, he managed the whole farm operations. He helped on the farm until he got a job at the Port of Brownsville. He worked on the docks, then as an apprentice carpenter. Charlie also went to college, taking business courses and also took several correspondence courses. He very quickly moved up to a full carpenter status for Dodds and Wedegartner, working construction projects in the Rio Grande Valley. Next, Charlie took the job of Superintendent of Construction while he worked for Velten Brothers. He was in charge of building most of the overpasses in the Rio Grande Valley area. He also built water plants, sewage disposal plants, and was in charge of putting in the jetties on South Padre Island and Boca Chica beaches. He was well respected in the construction field and at age 70, he retired from the construction business. During World War II, he built airstrips and helipads to help in the war effort. He was a member of Central Christian Church. He was a charter member of the Brownsville Benevolent Order of the Elks No. 1032, serving in every officer position, including exalted ruler, and representative to the state convention. He served them faithfully, in many different capacities for over 67 years. Charlie loved to go dancing at the Elks Lodges in the area, and would go two or three times a week. He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Thelma Eileen (Rone) Margenau; sisters Lilian Margenau, Violet Margenau, Alice Knight, Laura Ferguson; and brothers William, Frank Jr., Ernest, Henry and Raymond. He is survived by his loving wife, Yoli Syverson Margenau; four children, Charlene Morgenstern of San Angelo, George Henry Margenau (Rosemary) of Humble, Sandra Ruth Hunnicutt (Scott) of Lewisville, and Judith Elaine Cole (Jim) of Port Aransas, Texas; 11 grandchildren, five great grandchildren; and is also survived and loved by his nieces, Alice (Margenau) Clough, Frances (Margenau) Parker (Walter), and his nephew, Jimmy Margenau of Brownsville; and his niece Joan Wilcox (Glen), and nephew, Lee Knight, of Portland and Warrenton, Oregon. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2006, at the Brownsville Elks Lodge at 396 E. Ruben M. Torres, Sr. Blvd., with Rev. Juan Trevino presiding. There will be a lunch served at the Lodge after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elks Club for their charities, in memory of Charles James Margenau. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Trevino Funeral Service (956) 542-2583. Charles James Margenau was a positive inspiration to all the lives he touched. He was a loving honest, thoughtful, helpful, hard-working, logical, talented, caring, and humble father, husband, relative, and friend. He was a great role model for all those around him. He will be greatly missed by all. ANTONIA G. MEDRANO Antonia G. Medrano, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister passed to her eternal rest on April 1, 2006. Antonia was born on October 3, 1909, in Gonzalez, Texas, and moved to Rio Hondo in a covered wagon before her tenth birthday. As a girl she worked in the fields picking cotton and vegetables to help her family. When her family moved to Brownsville, she met and married Manuel Medrano, her husband of 57 years. Manuel passed away in 1986. We will remember her for her wisdom of life, her strength of character and her unconditional devotion to family. "Chata" was always there for us. She will be missed but not forgotten. Her family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers. Special gratitude goes to Julia Garcia, Clara Reyes, the Odyssey Hospice Center and the medical staff at Valley Regional Hospital for their loving care. Surviving siblings include, Ramon Garcia, Juan Garcia, Angelita Molina and Rosa Molina. Surviving children and spouses include, Guadalupe Hinojosa, Maria Benavidez, Beatriz Streun, Manuel and Chavela Medrano, and Joe and Tencha Medrano. Surviving grandchildren and spouses include, Monica and Jim Telese, Douglas and Norma Hinojosa, Diana and Brian Nicholson, Rene and Ida Medrano, Noe Medrano, Estevan Medrano, Daniel Medrano, David Medrano, Joe Medrano, Jr., and Manuel Benavidez, Jr. Antonia is survived by 16 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 12 to 9 p.m. today, April 3, 2006 with the recitation of the hold rosary at 7 p.m. at Trevino Funeral Home Chapel. On Tuesday, April 4, a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rene Medrano, Joe Medrano, Jr., David Medrano, Douglas Hinojosa, Joe David Medrano, and Estevan Medrano. Honorary pallbearers will be Manuel Adan Benavidez, Jr., and Manuel Ramon Garcia. Arrangements are under the direction of Trevino Funeral Home, 1355 Old Port Isabel Rd. (956) 542-2583. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. 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