Jesus "Jess" Montez, 91, of Moline, IL, passed away at his home surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on Christmas morning. Funeral services will be 9:00 AM Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Silvis, IL. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Moline, IL. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Wednesday (today) at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline, IL., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30PM. Memorials may be made to Trinity Visiting Nurses or masses. Jess was born January 9, 1915 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, the son of Luz and Petra Montez. Due to hardships of the Mexican Revolution, his parents migrated to Silvis in 1915 where his father found work on the Rock Island Lines. Jess's family was one of the first Mexican residents to settle inside the railroad's boxcar community before moving to Hero Street, Silvis in 1930. Jess came to the United States in 1933, and became a naturalized citizen in 1943. Jess married Caroline Valle of East Moline on October 29, 1939 in Silvis, IL. They raised 12 children. He worked on the Rock Island Lines as a crane operator for 40 years before retiring in 1975. Jess had numerous part-time jobs over the years, having been an excellent provider for his family. He bartended at the La Fiesta Tavern in East Moline for over 30 years. (He never called bartending work!) Jess was an active member of the community, serving as Mexican Social Club President during the 1940's, played shortstop for the Mexican Aces baseball team and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Silvis. After retirement, Jesse traveled extensively to Mexico to translate business negotiations between Mexican and American companies. Jess was very proud of his dual American and Mexican heritage. His accurate historic knowledge of the Quad-Cities Mexican Community made him sought after by reporters, filmmakers, and authors who documented his accounts in television documentaries and newspaper articles. He was a great historian of his family, always taking pictures and preserving pictures of his parents, uncles, cousins, and his own children. Jess had a keen sense of humor, a deep love for Mariachi music, a penchant for gambling, and an unwavering faith in God and family. Survivors include: his wife, Carol; brother Richard, sister-in-law, Margaret, Silvis, IL; daughter, Lenore Chavez, son-in-law, Mac, East Moline, IL; daughter Marina Castel, Davenport, IA; son, Alfred, Daughter in-law, Bich, Oswego, IL; son, Louie, daughter-in-law, Rosemary, Rock Island, IL; daughter Monica McColley, son-in-law, Floyd, Moline; daughter, Martha Haire, son-in-law, Rick, Bettendorf, IA; son Steve, daughter-in-law, Carla, Peoria, IL; son, Benny, daughter-in-law, Margaret , Champaign, IL; daughter, Louise Olvera, son-in-law, Perry Ramirez, Silvis; Son, Jerome, daughter-in-law, Norma, Moline; daughter, Marcy, Moline; daughter-in-law, Pam Montez, Bettendorf; 30 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; many nieces nephews; special cousins in the Medina Family. Jess is preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, Alvina, sister, Jennie Ortiz, brothers, Manuel, Bernard, and his son, Daniel, son-in-law, Michael Olvera and great-grandson, Tommy Halligan. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.