Ismael

Basaldua

Los Fresnos/Harlingen, TX

Ismael Basaldua, 56, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Los Fresnos, Texas. He was born April 18, 1960 to Gustavo Basaldua and Maria De Jesus Basaldua.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Rachel Arredondo Basaldua; children, Valerie (George) Basaldua, Iris Yvette (Fernando) Basaldua Rodriguez, Ismael (Crystal) Basaldua Jr., Norma Linda (Louie) Basaldua, Isaiah (Mona) Basaldua, Michael (Bianca) Ramirez, Mitchell (Izamar) Ramirez, and Makayla Lynn Ramirez; his mother, Maria Davila; father, Gustavo Basaldua; mother of Ismael's biological children, Norma Martinez; 2 sisters, Nora Davila and Marilyn Basaldua; 2 brothers, Gustavo Basaldua Jr. and Hector Medellin; and 15 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 3, 2017, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m at Trinity Funeral Chapel.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Isaiah Basaldua, Ismael Basaldua Jr., Michael Ramirez, Mitchell Ramirez, Gustavo Basaldua Jr., and Hector Medellin.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home 1002 E. Harrison Ave., Harlingen, TX 78550.

First and foremost, our family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during this difficult time. Though "El Machine" is not with us, it is not a time to mourn. This is a time to celebrate the impact he made in our lives. The love he showed each and every one of us in his own little way.

He was a hardworking dedicated man who worked for Church's Chicken for 35 years. He took so much pride in store #796. He will forever be known as the cleanest store of San Benito. He pushed his employees to the limit when his lobby was not cleaned, made them scared when something was not done his way but most of all he learned that they would not listen to him unless he talked without being upset. He brought chicken to every school holiday party because he knew the teachers gave us no choice. We were the chicken queens and kings of the school. He liked to give food to his kids whenever they showed up unannounced because he could (he was the boss).

He loved his music. As everyone knows his favorite song on replay was Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve. Pretty much loved anything by Pink Floyd. Blasting his 70's music while he rearraigned his house for the 100th time was his stress reliever even though it drove his wife insane. Driving this white Dodge on any back road with his five dogs in tow, windows down and his favorite station (96.1) on the radio or as Rachel says "it's the old people's music that no one will listen too" and how he loved to download his pirated/ illegal movies before they hit the theaters so he can say he saw it first is the way he will always be remembered.

We will remember his walk, his smile, his laugh and the way he combed his hair. We will remember his peace sign, gold rings, his cowboy boots, the way he smelled after his cigarette break, his love for homemade tortillas and Miller Light Beer. We will remember his favorite sayings like "whatever", "Oh my God", and "San Antonio". How we say "daddy" instead of the "Catrine" during chalupa night. How he would check your cards to make sure you were not cheating. How he loved playing Bingo with his mom and sisters on Sunday evenings and how he made sure her grass was cut. His love for action movies but his soft heart for Urban Cowboy and What Dreams May Come. His love for BBQ's, family get togethers, rollercoasters, amusement parks. His love for popping fireworks and paintball guns. But most of all we will remember him as the Dallas Cowboy's #1 loyal fan. He was so excited about those tickets to go see them play because they were bought with so much love. Win or lose he always wore his Red underwear for good luck. And that is how we will always remember this amazing man.

So on behalf of his wife Rachel, 8 children, 15 grandchildren, his mother and father – thank you for all the love and support.