ARTURO CARRANZA GONZALES

~~Arturo Carranza Gonzales
Arturo Carranza Gonzales, age 78 passed away in peace August 18, 2015 at his residence in San Antonio, TX.

He was born on January 30, 1937 in Elmendorf, TX to Benito Gonzales and Angelita Carranza. He is reunited in heaven with his daughter, Blanca “Sue” Gonzales, sisters, Lupe Anchondo, Margaret Gonzalez.
Arturo C. Gonzales laid the foundation for a life-long commitment of serving people in need at a very young age. His family moved from San Antonio to Wisconsin in 1947 when Art was 10 years old. He spent his summers working alongside family and friends in the farm fields of Racine County.
Upon his honorable discharge from the U. S. Marine Corp. at the age of 20, he worked at J. I. Case Company and in 1970 took a leave of absence to become the Executive Director of Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation. During his time at Southeast, he orchestrated the construction of over 1500 units of affordable self-help housing, developed four sub divisions and over 50 affordable housing units, and implemented a new version of self-help housing utilizing conventional financing. He was also involved in the building and operating of a 16 unit subsidized elderly housing complex in the Village of Darien, Wisconsin.
Art understood the needs of numerous organizations that he served. His involvement in the struggle against job discrimination in the early 1970’s led to his appointment as the first Hispanic chairman of the Racine Police and Fire Commission. His efforts resulted in a revolution in city government in Racine and he helped to resolve many of the recurring problems encountered by a wide spectrum of low and moderate income families. He participated in a 1972 demonstration in Wisconsin in support of migrant farm workers and the 1966 inception of the local Spanish Center.
Art served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Governors Hispanic Advisory Council and the Mexican American Political and Education Council. In his last years with Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corp. he was a member of the National Rural Housing Self-Help Housing Association. The National Association of Home Builders; and Chairman of Spanish Centers of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth.
Art occupied a space in his community as “a silent hero” and spent the majority of his life serving others with little or no recognition. We will never forget his compassion and dedication to Southeastern Wisconsin Housing and the families that we served. He led the corporation with his expertise through good times and bad as we carried out our mission in the service of lesser fortunate families in their dreams of homeownership. His family was his greatest loves, but he never forgot where he started and continued to serve until the corporation was closed in 2011. Art will never be forgotten and has earned his rewards in Heaven.
His memories live on through wife (Linda Garcia), daughter Rose Marie Divan (Timothy), Sisters: Estella Malacara, Janie Francis, Angie Shmidt, Stepchildren: Patti, Sonia, Michelle, Anthony, Vicki, Grandchildren: April Marie Bosworth, Andrew James Bosworth, Jasmine June Trevino, Jeremiah Hunter Valin, Great grandchildren: Camrin James Bosworth, Bianca Trevino, Julius, Emiliano, Avery, and many cousins, neighbors and dear friends. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Arturo’s Life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015 in the funeral home chapel at 11:30am. Visitation with the family will be from 9:30am until the time of service.  Burial will take place at West Lawn Cemetery.