Jose "Joe" Alfredo Rodriguez, 52, of Brownsville, Texas entered peacefully into his eternal rest with the Lord on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas. At the time of his passing, Joe was surrounded by his loving family. Joe was a Brownsville native who spent several years as Defensive Coordinator for Lopez High School. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Alfredo and Juanita Rodriguez and maternal grandparents, Jose and Sara De La Rosa. Joe is survived by his loving parents, Alonzo and Lydia Rodriguez of Brownsville; three beautiful and faithful children, Joey, Sarah, and Cyndi Rodriguez of Harlingen; four caring sisters, Diana (Mario) Cisneros of Brownsville, Linda (Romeo Jr.) Montalvo of Brownsville, Alice (Conrad) Bodden of Brownsville, Elizabeth (Charlie) Sanchez of Round Rock; and his nieces and nephews, Mario A. Cisneros, Dolly Cisneros, Omar Cisneros, Stevie Solis, Nico Bodden, Andres Bodden, Rafael Bodden, and Julieta Montalvo, along with several aunts, uncles and cousins. Joe was born in Brownsville, Texas on September 13, 1956. He was the oldest of Alonzo's and Lydia's five children. Joe's heart and laugh was bigger than a football stadium. He was the big brother and brother-in-law that everyone wished they had. The handsome, high school football star that always made his parents proud, and looked over his sisters with an eagle eye. He loved his sisters with all his heart, but never gave up an opportunity to pick on them. The biggest joys in Joe's life, though, were his children. Joe always said how proud he was of his son, and how beautiful his daughters were. When Joe was with his children, that is when he was the happiest. When his nieces and nephews were around him, he knew how to love them, guide them, and make them laugh. Joe graduated from Brownsville High School in 1977, and received a Kinesiology & History Degree from UT-PanAm and Texas Southmost College. Joe was a Brownsville high school football coach for several years, and taught for B.I.S.D. for twenty-five years. He dedicated much of his life to coaching football. For Joe, though, the time dedicated to football was not about the game itself but it was about the dedication and love he had for his coaching friends and the children he guided. One of Joe's many quotes was "It's All About the Kids." He always talked about the kids and athletes he met especially those at Lopez High School, and how proud he was of his linebackers. Joe enjoyed spending time with his children, nieces and nephews; cooking for family and friends; and there is no question that Joe loved football but what he loved more was spending Sunday afternoon with his dad, mom and family while watching a game. Joe loved life and loved his friends. He spoke of his coaching friends to his family all the time. Most of those stories cannot be repeated here. The family sends a heartful thanks to all the Lopez coaches and other friends that were by the family's side these last few days. A special thanks to his close friends: Juan Magallanes, Beto Leal, and Kowalski. Joe's family also gives a heartful thanks to their caring friend Dr. Roberto Robles. Visitation will be held on Friday August 07, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1300 Los Ebanos in Brownsville. Mass of Resurrection will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday August 08, 2009 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brownsville. Committal Service will follow to Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Brownsville. After the burial services, the family extends an invitation to all of Joe's friends to a reception celebrating Joe's life at the Historic Brownsville Museum located at 641 East Madison, Brownsville, Texas. Pallbearers will be Mario Cisneros, Mario Alonzo Cisneros, Omar Cisneros, Romeo Montalvo, Charlie Sanchez, Conrad Bodden, Juan Magallanes, and Jaime Garcia. Honorary Pallbearers will be Stevie Solis, Nico Bodden, Andres Bodden and Rafael Bodden. Words of comfort can be sent to the family of Jose Alfredo Rodriguez at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, TX (956) 399-1331.