He was born September 3, 1925 in Coleman, TX to the late Jose and Elvira Rosales Cardenas, Aristeo was married to his wife of 66 years Herminia DelaRosa on June 25, 1949 and Brownwood became their permanent home. Aristeo is survived by his loving wife and five children: Ramon and Elva Cardenas of Brownwood, TX, Reyes and Maria Cardenas of Arlington, TX, Rudy and Sandy Cardenas of Ft Worth, TX, Yolanda and Jesus Bernal of Brownwood, TX, and Josie and Gilbert Contreras of Early, TX. Aristeo also leaves behind eighteen grandchildren: Albert and Sara Bernal, JoAnn and Jorge Martinez, A.R. and Celeste Malone Cardenas, Lisa Villarreal, Jessica and Sabino Alvarado, Ricardo and Tamara Cardenas, Lydia and Brian Frerichs, J.B. and Trista Bernal, Adrian and Melanie Cardenas, April Cardenas, Rafe Cardenas, Kristen and Paul Contreras Perry, Juan and Melissa Bernal, Tonie Contreras, Steven Cardenas, Ryan Contreras, Danielle Contreras, and Andrea Contreras, thirty great-grandchildren, and brothers: Faustino and Josie Cardenas of Commerce City, CO and David and Irene Cardenas of Denver, CO. Aristeo is preceded in death by a daughter, Margie Cardenas Perez, four brothers, two sisters, granddaughter: Angelica Yasalet Cardenas, and great-grandson: Jesus Andres Bernal.
Aristeo had an immense love for baseball that developed at a young age. He was a talented pitcher and played ball with his brothers throughout his younger years. He met the love of his life picking cotton, a story that never grew old. Aristeo was a master carpenter and auto mechanic. He enjoyed passing his skills onto his children. He worked in road construction and built bridges all over the state of Texas until he began working for Superior Cable from where he retired. He loved his old-westerns, coffee, sweet bread, watermelon and the Sunday funnies. After retirement, he relished time with and taking care of his grandchildren. Sunday breakfast, picking pecans, and trips to Mrs. Baird’s and The Red Wagon will forever be cherished. His lessons taught every one what it meant to love and be loved. We will miss seeing you sitting on the front porch when we drive up, smelling your cigarette smoke on our clothes after we’ve left, your caps that always sat on your head, and the sound of the birds when we sat outside to watch the sun set. Thank you for always telling us that we were worth more than gold because we will carry you in our hearts for the rest of our lives. You will be missed beyond measure and no words can express the heartfelt sorrow we will endure with your passing.
Arrangements under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home, Brownwood, TX.