January 8, 1945 — June 20, 2024
Julian Gonzales Escamilla made his final transition into Heaven the evening of June 20, 2024 where he undoubt-edly ran into the open arms of all his loved ones that were gone before him and waiting for him, especially his daughter Patty, his mom and dad and his little brother. What a beautiful Family Reunion it must have been.
Julian was born in Llano, Texas on January 8, 1945 to Guadalupe (Lupe) Gonzales Escamilla and Felipe (Felix) Escamilla and was raised in the Bertram-Andice-Burnet area. He was a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church for over 70 years where he served his church community. He helped to build the bell tower and other wings that still exists at the church. Coming from a migrant family, Julian traveled with his parents to Bry-an Ohio, Michigan, and all around Texas, especially in the west Texas areas where they worked in all agricultural activities such as picking and chopping cotton, picked to-matoes, beets, pecans, sugar cane, corn, hay, as well as a sheep shearer.
Julian is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Connie Contreras Escamilla, son Patrick, and grandson Joshua (Isa). He is also survived by his sister Addie Zinser (Dwaine “Fish”), his brothers Mark Escamilla (Virgie), Felix Escamilla and sister Janie Pesina (Jessie). He was preceded in death by his parents Felipe and Lupe Escamilla, brother Joe “Bo” Escamilla and his beloved daughter Patricia (Patty) Escamilla.
Julian's life was defined by love and caring for others and working extremely hard at whatever he did. Julian was a hard worker with strong work ethics and taught many others about those work ethics and hard work, just ask all his nephews that worked for him as they grew up. He worked hard all his life beginning as a young boy, as a migrant farm worker when they traveled with his family to do that hard work.
Unfortunately, school for Julian and his siblings was not a priority in the family of eight because they were needed to help support their migrant family. The family would come to their home base in Burnet in mid-November to begin school but with his determination to play sports in school, his strong work ethics came through, so he excelled in school and also in his school sports. He was playing on some varsity teams as a Freshman in High School. Julian was a natural athlete and loved to do it all. In High School, he played baseball, basketball, football and track.
In later years, when he was not working, he was playing semi-pro baseball for many years with the Bertram Red Sox, and other baseball teams. He loved playing golf and you would often see him at Dela-ware Springs Golf Course or surrounding area golf courses, playing with his son Pat and grandson Joshua or with other family members.
When Julian was a Freshman in High School, he had to quit school to begin full time work to help support his family. Thus began his concrete construction work that he worked at for over 50 years. He took so much pride in his work and it showed. Julian was ready to help in the community where he volunteered his inkind service to the city as they built the Wallace-Riddell Skate Park, the Fair Barn, Industrial Park, the Escamilla Pavilion at Galloway-Hammond, the Bell Towers at Our Mothers Catholic Church and many others in the Burnet Community.
His final employment was as a dedicated partner with his brother’s company, Mark Escamilla Concrete. He worked there until his illness stopped him. He was always ready to work and to help anyone that needed it, to give that helping hand.
His other loves besides his family included singing and dancing. And what a good singer and dancer he was, ask anyone. He looked forward to the Escamilla Family Reunions and just family get-togethers, especially singing Tejano music with his nephews when they came into town. Julian was so respected and loved in our community which is evidenced by the many children (over 10) that he was Padrino (Godfather) to. He loved hard, worked hard, cared hard and above all Loved God hard.
Pallbearers are Tony Longoria, Matthew Zinser, Felipe Zinser, Mark Escamilla, Jr., Gabe Pesina, Aaron Escamilla, Thomas Castillo, and Robert Salinas.
Honorary Pallbearers are Charles Zinser, Jessie Pesina, Manuel Castillo, Bongie Escamilla, Jason Mata, Roy Sala-zar.
The family would like to thank all the health personnel and staff that treated and cared for Julian during all those long days of his illness at Austin Heart Hospital (especially Ryker and Madison), South Austin Heart, Ascension Seton Highland Lakes, Accent Care. As well as Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home.
