Trinidad "Tj" J Aguilar

Trinidad J. T.J. Aguilar, 87, of Grand Island died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, with his family by his side, at Good Samaritan Society in Wood River.



Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Marys Cathedral in Grand Island, with the Revs. Scott Harter and Jorge Canela officiating. Burial of ashes will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island.



Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A Rosary will follow the visitation at 7. Memorials are suggested to St. Marys Church or the Good Samaritan Society in Wood River. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family.



Trinidad J. Aguilar was born Sept. 1, 1930, in Grand Island, the son of Jacinto & Isabel (Ramirez) Aguilar. He grew up and received his education in Grand Island. He was employed by Union Pacific Railroad from 1945 until 1947. He entered the United States Army on Feb. 5, 1948, serving in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 21, 1955. He was in the Army Reserves until 1955.



He was united in marriage to Barbara Hatcher on March 1, 1946, in Grand Island. The couple made their home in Grand Island. He later married Bonnie J. Duering on Feb. 28, 1964, in Grand Island. Bonnie preceded him in death on April 15, 2017.



He returned to Grand Island, where he was employed at the Cornhusker Amy Ammunition Plant, Geer Mobil Homes, served as a shift supervisor for Silas Mason, and at Mason Hanger. In 1962 he was the founder and owner of Aguilar Lawn & Janitorial Services in Grand Island, continuing until 2013.



He was a member of St. Marys Cathedral, Grand Island, Eagles Club, Grand Island Saddle Club, American Legion and a member of the Nebraska Mexican American Commission in Lincoln for four years. He was the past president of Lincoln School in 1963 and in 1965 he worked with City Manager John Carpenter to get the Softball Fields built that are now located at the National Guard Armory.



He enjoyed fishing, camping and Nebraska football and baseball.



Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Joseph and Trisha Aguilar, of Weaverville, Calif., Raymond and Susan Aguilar of Grand Island, Richard and Deb Aguilar of Grand Island, Jan Jakubowski of Grand Island, Christina and Ralph Zavala of Wood River, Glenda Aguilar and Finley PlentyChief of Grand Island, Rick Duering of Grand Island, Cheri Jakubowski of Grand Island and Dru Duering of Lincoln; 35 grandchildren; 80 great-grandchildren; 37 great-great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Mary Buckner, Seraphine (Bear) Aguilar, Esther Perales, Ginger Arvizo, Annie Aguilar, Carolyn Talmadge, Becky Rodriguez and Linda Ontiberos.



He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Donald Aguilar; brothers, Stanley Aguilar and Manuel Aguilar; and sisters, Julia Campos, Eva Vasquez, Jenny Guardiola and Jessie Trejo.