Feb. 7, 1947 - Apr. 30, 2023
Date of Service: May 3, 2023
Service Program
BURLEY – Jesus R. De La Cruz, a 76-year-old resident of Burley, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2023, at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise.
Jesus De La Cruz was born on February 7, 1947, to Lucas and Filiberta De La Cruz, born in Los Ramones, Mexico. He attended school in Mexico until the 6th grade, then decided to work so he could help support his family. He was the oldest out of five siblings.
Jesus grew up moving cattle and horseback riding. He had a favorite horse named El Pinto, wherever he went his faithful horse was there.
On April 11th, 1970, he married the love of his life, Lidia Ibarra Moreno. They recently celebrated 53 years of marriage. In 1972, they had their first child, a baby boy. After that they hoped for all boys but six girls later... they got their boys in their sons-in-law, when his daughters all married.
In 1974, he left his cattle and horses and migrated to Mission, Texas, where he worked a variety of jobs that included construction, lumber, factories, and farm labor. He worked until he had an accident at work that forced him into early retirement. Jesus and his family often traveled between Texas and Idaho, until 2003 when he decided it was their last trip and they stayed. Once established in Burley, he found his way back to God where he made a new start in life for him and his family. He was a member of Truth Tabernacle Church, where he was thankful that he had a Preacher that preached to him the truth. He loved all the children in the church and laughed at being called Bro. Goose (since the kids couldn’t pronounce his name). Jesus, died in late March and God preformed a miracle and allowed us another month with him.
Jesus enjoyed his life in Idaho, he liked to talk and knew no stranger; he was an active man, always working on one thing or another. He liked working outside and tinkering with cars and bikes. Especially bikes, he had his 3-wheel bike that he rigged with a motor, radio, and umbrella. He went all over the place on his bike, until he was not able to ride it anymore. Jesus was always ready to fix bikes, when his grandkids would say they had a flat tire, all they had to do was call grandpa, who always had glue or patches on hand. He always had bikes available for when the grandkids would visit him, they had something to ride. Jesus had to often be reminded to tell the grandkids No, as they often asked him for things in English and to everything he would respond yes, even when he didn’t know what they were asking. He loved all his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his four-legged grandchildren. He loved putting bird houses out with food and enjoyed watching the birds fill themselves with the goodies he set out for them to eat.
Dad, Grandpa, Brother, and Friend he will be missed by all who knew him. Jesus will be greatly missed by his wife, Lidia; children, Jesus Rene De La Cruz, Beatriz De La Cruz, Claudia Garcia, Gabby (Evar) Trejo, Esmer (John) Vargas, Maggie (James) Vargas, Kaira Avalos; and a special little dog named Gordo; 23 grandkids; two great-grandkids and one on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Lucas and Filiberta; his sisters, Carlota and Ymelda; and nine special grandbabies that he is enjoying and caring for in Heaven.
A special thanks to the medical staff from Life Flight, Life Run, Cassia Regional Hospital, and St. Luke’s Hospitals in Twin Falls and Boise.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Truth Tabernacle, located at 2459 Hiland Ave., in Burley, with Pastor Quinn Yarbrough officiating. Family and friends will be received from 12 noon to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.
