Israel Montalvo Canales

Israel Montalvo Canales passed away at Windsor Nursing Home, old Retama Manor, in Harlingen, Texas, under hospice care, at the age of 89, on December 25, 2023, four days after his birthday, due to natural causes, old age. Israel joins his deceased siblings: Brother Rodolfo "Ropo" (+2010) and his sister Herlinda (+2019). He was the last of his Canales generation. Israel was the son of Timoteo Solis Canales (+1957) and Catarina Montalvo (+1935); paternal grandson of Margarito Canales and San Juanita Solis; maternal grandfather Manuel Montalvo and Concepcion Guerrero Salazar, both from Linares, Nuevo Leon; his paternal great grandparents Lazaro Solis and Francisca Cantu Solis, founders of Solis Ranch in La Feria, Texas. Childhood: Israel was born on December 21, 1934 in Rancho de los Canales, off South Louisiana Road, adjacent to the Willacy Canal, just south of Santa Rosa, Texas. As a toddler, his mom died during her fourth pregnancy. His father, Timoteo took baby Israel and his siblings to live in Lyford with their maternal Montalvo grandparents. In 1936, his father remarried with Elvira Quintanilla, who as his stepmother, would raise him as her son. Israel was born into the Canales and Solis families, South Texas pioneers. From the early Spanish colonial days, his great great great grandfather Jose Cayetano Canales was granted land by the King of Spain in 1764. Porcion 38, a land grant along the Rio Grande in present Zapata County, Texas(old Guerrero that is under the waters of Falcon Lake), Migratory work: As a child and teenager in the 1940s, he picked cotton and vegetables with his dad, a labor contractor, Places like Chapman Ranch(el Chapeno), Indiana, Michigan, El Campo, Vanedang and local Valley fields. In July 1957 while working with his brother Rodolfo in Muleshoe with contractor Roy Dominguez Sr. of Mercedes, for the potato harvest, loading up 100 pound sacks to 18 wheelers and railroad cars in the Stan Barrett packing shed, they were informed of their dad's truck accident death in La Feria, Each season, July thru August, besides Muleshoe, he would go to Pecos for the onion harvest, working side by side in the Packing shed, loading up the trailers and train cars, with his brother Rodolfo, 50 pound sacks of onions. In 1967, Israel traveled to Hereford, Texas, to continue loading up onions and potatoes; there, he bought his first car, a 1955 white Chevy Bel Air. For relaxation, he and his brother, Rodolfo would travel to Clovis and Logan, New Mexico. In Logan, he found some Indian arrowheads along the river. In the Valley, he worked in Mercedes: Marvin Schwarz Packing shed and in 1981 with H&H Meat plant. Hobbies: Treasure hunting with his two rods and a metal detector. Coin collecting. Musician: For over 60 years, Israel was a conjunto accordionist, like his contemporaries: Valerio Longoria, Tony de la Rosa, Pepe Maldonado, Ruben Vela (Santa Rosa resident), Paulino Bernal, Ernesto Guerra, and Gilberto Perez. With his conjunto band members, they would be hired to play in quinceneras, tardeadas, weddings and cantinas; polkas, huapangos, chotices, boleros and rancheras. Upon request, he would tune accordions of his fellow musicians. In Santa Rosa, he was a daily constant breakfast customer at the Little Bits Cafe and Connies Cafe; socializing with local acquaintances. He was always available to help a family member and a friend in need. Israel always had a jovial and a sunny disposition. After living in his parent's home, alone, north side of la Plazcita, for many years, he became a resident in Windsor nursing home in 2018, due to his dementia and health issues. In August 2023, Israel went into hospice care. Survivors: Rebecca Canales Gonzalez, sister, of Harlingen, nephews: Rene C. Rangel, Santa Rosa, Ruben C. Rangel, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Roel C. Rangel, Keller, Raul C. Rangel, Arlington, Rodolfo Canales Jr., La Feria, Timoteo Canales, Austin, Ramiro Canales, Austin, Moises Canales, Houston, Saul Canales, San Antonio, and a niece, Anita who preceded him in death in 2023. A wake, public viewing, will be held on Tuesday, January 2 at Rudy Garza Funeral Home in Harlingen, 2pm to 9pm with the holy rosary to be prayed at 7pm. Wednesday, January 3, a funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 10 am. Interment will follow at Santo Nombre Cemetery. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be his nephews and grand nephews. Special thanks to Bee First, Windsor Nursing Home, Gracia Hospice, Rudy Garza Funeral Home and Constable Eddie Solis and his deputies.

Israel Montalvo Canales

December 21, 1934 - December 25, 2023

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