Napoleon Calderon Lopez

Napoleon Calderon Lopez, 85, of Stevensville, MI passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 A.M. Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at St. Johns Catholic Church, 600 Columbus Ave., Benton Harbor with Fr. William Jacobs Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may visit from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with the Rosary recited at 6:30 P.M. Monday, May 25, 2015 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Johns Catholic Community Center or St. Vincent de Paul. Those wishing to share a memory of Napoleon online may do so at www.starksmenchinger.com. Napoleon was born October 31, 1929 in Guanajuato. Mexico to Gregorio Calderon & Piedad Lopez. As a young man he moved to California where he began a new life, he then moved to Chicago where his career on the railroad started. On October 21, 1963 he married Carmen Magallanez in Eagle Pass, TX after many years of praying to our Lady of Guadalupe asking that she give him his perfect woman. Napoleon worked as an Engineer of Tracks “Railroad Master” for CSX Transportation (Impressive for a man with only 3 years of elementary education). He was a member of St. John and Bernard Catholic Church and St. Joseph where he ushered at the Annex and was part of the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph/Benton Harbor where he proudly served as a fourth degree honor guard as often as he could. He enjoyed volunteering at the Catholic Community Center, Jail Ministry, Adoration, and was the caretaker of St. Joseph South for many years. In his spare time he enjoyed walking especially at Grand Mere State Park and saying the Rosary. Napoleon could hardly be separated from his special friends, his dogs, numbering many, all were his best friend especially Luna and Tiki Tiki, all were a part of Napoleon. However in his life it was not the moments that mattered to him but the people in those moments. He is remembered for who he was not what he did, and continues to remind of how one man can impact so many. Napoleon is survived by his wife Carmen Lopez? daughters Reyna (Francisco) Chavez and Juanita (John) Grover? grandchildren Reyna (Dave), Sara, Rebecca, Victoria, David Chavez, Tony, Dani, Zach, Lupe, Sofi Grover, Tony, Maria, Jose Luis and Mario (Jenni) Magallanez and many brothers and sisters. Napoleon was preceded in death by his parents, son Santiago “Chago” Lopez, grandson Jacob, and eight brothers and sisters.