Manuel John Rodriguez's Obituary
Rod was born in Waukegan, Illinois to Manuel Lopez Rodriguez and Evelyn Minnie Gehrls-Rodriguez. As an Army brat, his family travelled traveled around the country and overseas to Germany. The family settled in Steilacoom. Rod graduated from Clover Park High School in 1963 and joined the Army right after. He was sent overseas to Korea in 1964 as an artillery surveyor. After his military service, Rod worked at Boeing and then American Biscuit Company. He was hired in 1971 to become a police officer for the Town of Steilacoom- he gave the town 37 years of dedicated service and retired in 2008. He enjoyed many trips to Alaska to see family and his grandkids. Rod was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Evelyn, and brother, Richard. He is survived by his youngest brother James (wife Sandy), his wife of 45 years Yvonne, and his children, Dianne, Tea, James and his wife Toni, Jennifer, Somer and her husband Robert, and John, 17 grandchildren, as well as 4 great grandchildren with a new great-grandson on the way!
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