Martin Ballesteros Gonzalez, age 68, was born on July 29th, 1953 passed away on December 10th, 2021.
Born into poverty, Martin remembered time on his grandfather’s farm in Mexico hunting iguanas.
He started work at age 13. At age 17, he crossed the northern border in search of liberty and opportunity. There he met the woman that would become his wife. He got married and started a family in the USA.
He once crossed the Sierra Nevada mountain range with his family in a tiny car through a snowstorm in December to get to Grandma’s house, and through another storm to bring his family back.
In 1994, his son nearly perished in an auto accident and was confined to a wheelchair. Martin hand-crafted an accessibility ramp out of wood so his son could come home.
He enjoyed weird food like pig feet and chicken feet. He would cook breakfast on Sunday mornings and make fresh salsa. He would brew coffee and tea for everyone.
He recycled cans and bought his children and grandchildren candy. He attended their baseball games, bowling tournaments and graduations. Martin was there, and he is here.
For years, he labored continuously until the age of 64 to manifest the American Dream, and he was completely successful. Martin became a naturalized citizen. He owned a home, had a monthly Social Security check, a 401K, Medicare, a truck, and an imperfect-but-loving family.
Martin is survived by his three children, two grandchildren, three sisters, two brothers, and his father.