Carlos V. 'Charlie' Hysquierdo, 85, passed away on June 13, 2012 after a courageous three year battle with cancer and diabetes. He was born on August 8, 1926 in Port Lavaca to the late Francisco and Eufracia Velasquez Hysquierdo. He joined the US Army on November 20, 1945 and served as a PFC Rifleman in CO A 526th Armed Inf BN TAS. He was stationed in Kokura, Japan and on May 19, 1947 he was honorably discharged. On December 17, 1977, he married Estella Bustos. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. During his lifetime, he worked numerous jobs. For several years, he worked with Brown and Root and retired from Alcoa in Rockdale in 1988. After retirement, he drove the Senior Citizens bus. He was a member of the American Legion Post 0003 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3972. Going to the nursing homes after church was a favorite past time. He enjoyed speaking to the residents and he brightened their day. He truly enjoyed traveling with his family to California, Las Vegas, and to see the Grand Canyon. He enjoyed mowing lawns with his grandsons and was 82 years old when he stopped mowing lawns. He liked working with his cattle and goats and loved going to the Cuero Livestock Auction Ring. To him, there were no strangers and he had a kind word for everyone he met. He was a hardworking man and a good family man who put his family first above all else.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Estella Hysquierdo; daughter, Delia Sanchez and Roger; grandsons, Joe Carlos Sanchez and wife, Erica, Joel Rene Sanchez and wife, Martina, Ophelia Vasquez and husband, Eric; one step-grandson; great-grandchildren, Nolan and Naudia, Joel Jr. and Skyler, Kamelia and Angelo, and three great-step-grandchildren; sisters, Teresa Rojas and husband, Jose, Dora Hernandez and husband, Rudy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ophelia Hysquierdo; infant daughter, Guadalupe Hysquierdo; sister, Trine Trevino, and eight brothers, Johnnie, Manuel, Lupe, David, Frank Jr., Daniel, Margarito, and Simon Hysquierdo.

Visitation will be Monday, June 18, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7 p.m. at Freund Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Father David Berger officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Joe Carlos Sanchez, Joel Rene Sanchez, Eric Vasquez, Gerald Clark, Jose Ortiz Jr., and Vincent Villarreal.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the American Cancer Society, or the American Diabetes Association.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.