Roll Call Tribute

From tributes.com

Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
plm-sa@porterloring.com
Tel. (210) 495-8221

Ricardo "Rick" Mireles, Jr.

Born: January 30, 1957
Died: May 15, 2019
Location: Bulverde, Texas

Ricardo "Rick" Mireles Jr., age 62, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in the comfort of his home in Bulverde, Texas after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was preceded in death by his sister, Hilda Nellie Mireles, brother, Miguel "Mike" Mireles, and parents, Maria Luz Cuellar Mireles and Ricardo Mireles, Sr. Rick is survived by his wife, Brenda Mireles; daughters, Sara Mireles, Sabrina Mireles, and Kassie Purpura (James); son, Joel Schwirtlich (Heather), grandchildren, Addison and Gavin; sister-in-law, Sherri Mireles, niece, Mikela Mireles, and nephew, Miguel "Mike" Mireles, Jr.
He was born on January 30, 1957 in Laredo, Texas where he attended J.W Nixon High School. He grew up an avid hunter and enjoyed hunting with his family of hunting buddies everywhere from south Texas to the mountains of Colorado.
After graduating from high school, he then went on to graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering as a part of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 1978. He was a proud Aggie along with his late sister, Hilda Nellie (Class of 1977), his son, Joel (Class of 2002) and daughter Sara (Class of 2015), however he allowed himself to be a little bit of a Texas Longhorn fan since his youngest daughter, Sabrina, graduated from the University of Texas in 2016.
Following his graduation from Texas A&M University, he began his career as a Civil Engineer with the United States Department of Agriculture—Natural Resource Conservation Service, where he proudly worked for over 40 years. He was passionate about his career and his family as depicted in one of his favorite poems:
I believe in farming as a way to live and make a living.
I believe in the dignity of my work. We want no man's patronage, preaching or pity.
I believe in my soil. It will reward me in proportion to the thought, labor, and love I give it.
I believe in myself. My success depends on me more than on weather, luck or laws.
I believe in my neighbors. My community, like my soil returns to me as I give to it.
I believe in co-operation, in thinking for myself, and acting with my fellows.
I believe that only a united agriculture can ensure justice and prevent inequality.
I believe in education. The more I know, the greater ability to seize the opportunities and to be happy. I insist that my children be enabled to be useful, intelligent men and women.
I believe in conservation. I will leave a better farm than I took. I believe that living is the most important job in the world, and I mean to plan my work so that my family and myself will have time and means to enjoy life. I face the years ahead with confidence, hope and faith in the Supreme Being. I believe in farming.
Throughout his fight with cancer, his continued faith in the Lord gave him strength and peace to endure the difficulties he and his family faced. Towards the end, he firmly believed that his journey was in God's hands and he was going to follow his footsteps, one day at a time.
In the days and weeks leading up to his death, he was hesitant to receive visitors due to his appearance following chemotherapy treatments and the progression of the disease. He wanted his family and friends to know that he chose cremation and chose to have a closed casket because he wanted to be remembered as the double XL body that walked this earth and not the one that was decimated by disease. He didn't want to be remembered as the vessel his body was, he wanted people to remember his soul, his character, his integrity, his work ethic, and his heritage. These are the things he was proud of and the mark he wanted to leave. He instilled a legacy of faith and strength in his family to allow them to take on the world. He always maintained a thirst for knowledge and lived by his favorite line "knowledge is power".
He claimed to be quite the introvert, which he felt kept him from communicating well with family and friends, but he wanted everyone in his life to know that every single one of you was close to his heart always.
The family would like to extend their greatest appreciation to the staff of Stone Oak Methodist Hospital oncology floor for their continued support and guidance during the most difficult of times; especially his favorite nurses: Jeff and Irene, and the many others that cared for him. Another special thank you to the staff of VITAS Healthcare for their continued assistance during his hospice care.
He was a loving, passionate, and caring husband, father, grandfather, and uncle and he will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

The family will receive friends from 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

ROSARY
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019
7:00 P.M.
PORTER LORING MORTUATRY NORTH CHAPEL

MASS
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019
10:00 AM
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Rev. Daniel Villarreal will officiate the services at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Pallbearers will be Kassie & James Purpura, Joel Schwirtlich, Sara Mireles, Sabrina Mireles, and his godson, Buck Postell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.


Services

Visitation
Thursday, May 23
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 495-8221


Rosary
Thursday, May 23
7:00 PM

Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 495-8221


Mass
Friday, May 24
10:00 AM

Holy Trinity Catholic Church
20523 Huebner Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78258