LEONCIO B. GUTIERREZ SR.'s Obituary
Leoncio “Osio” Balingit Gutierrez Sr., 85, passed away on March 14th, 2018.Born on February 11th, 1933 in Masantol, Philippines as the son of Ambrocio Gutierrez and Silvina Balingit, Leoncio dedicated his life to providing for his family and others. In 1956, at the age of 23, he began to establish his own family after marrying his high school sweetheart, Remedios Macapagal. In 1967, Leoncio and Remedios began to migrate their family to America. While working as a janitor at the Oakland Hilton, Leoncio was able to move him, his wife, and his, now, seven children up from his apartment to a home in Oakland, eventually settling down at a home in San Leandro. He soon landed a job as a machinist at A&B Die-Casting in Berkeley where he was employed for more than 25 years and was dubbed “Leo the Lion’’ by his colleagues. Shortly before his retirement, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers honored his years of service by bestowing upon him the Silver Veteran’s Badge. Post-retirement, Leoncio and Remedios moved to Las Vegas after thirty-five years of establishing roots, raising children, and, later, grandchildren in the Bay Area.Leoncio was an avid sports fan who was often seen wearing a cap supporting the Warriors, 49ers, or the A’s. He was also known to be exceptionally sociable and able to talk to anyone. This came to the surprise of those who accompanied him on errands, when he would unexpectedly run into and greet multiple people that he knew. But most of all, Leoncio had an extremely giving heart which was most demonstrated through him establishing a solid foundation for his family and friends. He helped them in any way possible, whether it was through helping a nephew buy their first car, picking his grandchildren up from school, or housing newly immigrated family members and friends in his home for a month or two, regardless if it meant that 16 people would live there at a time.Leoncio’s legacy of selflessness, kindness, and hard work continues on with his relatives. Surviving are his wife: Remedios (Emy); his sister: Augustina; his daughters: Rosalina (Lynn) and husband Joe, Redinia (Deng), Marie and husband Edwin, and Rosario (Charry); his sons: Leon and wife Liza, Lito and wife Fatima, and Lester; his grandchildren: Nina, Jeffrey and wife Kimberly, Melanie, Matthew, Venice and husband Kelvin, Marielle, Calvin, Leonard, Christopher, Brandon, Jacob, and Jared; and his great grandchildren: Nia, Kael, Eva, and Audrey.Leoncio was predeceased by his parents: Silvina and Ambrocio; and siblings: Fortunata Perez, Garasio Gutierrez, Maria dela Paz Yumang, Estella Yabut, Pacencia Balingit.Visitation for family and friends will be on Tuesday, April 3rd and Wednesday, April 4th, both from 5-9 pm, with a rosary vigil at 6pm during the Wednesday visitation. All services will take place in the Reflection Chapel at Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, 32992 Mission Blvd., Hayward. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 10:30am at St. Felicitas Catholic Church, 1662 Manor Blvd., San Leandro. Burial will follow at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park.
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