Hector Rivera Colon

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Hector Rivera-Colón (affectionally known to family as “Tito”), 68, of Kenosha, Wisconsin went home peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, August 23, 2019 at Aurora Zilber Hospice in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

He was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on January 10, 1951. The son of the late Manuel and the late Ceferina (nee Colón) Rivera. He and his family moved to the United States in 1959 – when he was 8 years old and the family settled in Waukegan, Illinois. He was educated in the Waukegan and North Chicago school systems. As a teenager, Hector worked at Colón Grocery Store, which was owned by his uncle, Tio Felipe.

In 1973, he was united in marriage with Ruth Morales. This union produced a precious son, Hector “Tito” Rivera, Jr.

He met the love of his life Janet Bess in 1991, and in 6 months they were united in marriage. Their union was blessed with a beautiful daughter, Chyna Marie. The family became long-time residents of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Hector was a very loving, attentive and devoted husband and father who loved spending time with his family. He was a proud Dad whose children were extremely precious to him. He loved all his family; he especially adored his siblings with whom he had close relationships. He also had a great sense of humor and a huge heart.

Hector retired from Waukegan Public Schools in 2013 where he was a senior maintenance attendant. He was a perfectionist and took great pride in his work and was known as an exceptional employee. He was a determined, incredibly hard-working and talented man who could do anything. By trade, he was a painter, carpenter, mechanic and a “fixer-upper” of homes.

Hector was an avid lover of fast cars and motorcycles. He loved to ride them. He was a collector of antique cars and loved going to car shows. Hector loved to cook and was amazing at it – he could “put together” anything and it was yummy! He also loved old TV shows, boxing, football (he was a Packers fan), small trips and cruises. His dream/wish was to visit his son and daughter-in-law in Puerto Rico in the near future.

Above all, Hector’s strong faith and love of God was the highest of importance to him. It was everything! Although he was raised spiritually, he established his own personal relationship with the Lord later in life. In 2014, Hector and Janet found Parkway Apostolic Church in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. They quickly decided to make this wonderful church their home. In early 2017, Hector was baptized there by his spiritual brother, Tom Paquin.

Leaving to cherish this sweet man’s memories are his loving and devoted wife of 28 years Janet Rivera-Colón;, son Hector (Ingrid) Rivera Jr.; daughter Chyna Marie Rivera-Colón; Godson Zhavon Hayes-Lee; brothers: Manuel (Poppo) Citron and Manuel (Mildred) Rivera; sisters: Magdalia (Geraldo) Echevarria, Beatriz (O. Bruce) Adams, Candida (Arquelio) Talavera, Maritza (Juan) Martinez, & Sandra (Victor) Zertuche; brothers-in-law: Charels E. Burchett Jr and Jermaine Nesbitt; sisters-in-law: Gwendolyn (Sydney) Mulkey, Charlene (James) Burchett-Humprey, Andrea (Gabe) Bradin, & Renee (James) Evans-Nesbitt; and a host of nieces & nephews, aunts & uncles, other relatives and friends. He was also blessed with special dear friends: Yolanda & Carmelo Nieves, Thomas & Vera Paquin, and Thomas & Susan Holzer. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Enrique and Luis Rivera.

Visitation will be held at Parkway Apostolic Church, 10940 S. Nicholson Road, Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53145 from 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 9, 2019. Interment will follow the Funeral at All Saints Cemetery in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

If you would like to make a memorial contribution in Hector’s memory, the Family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society of Southeastern Wisconsin, N19 W24350 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha, WI 53188 in lieu of floral tributes.