Porfirio "Pilo" Castillo Jr.

Rock Valley, IA: Porfirio “Pilo” Castillo Jr., 62, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Iowa. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 24, at 10:30 AM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley with Pastor Aaron Wurgler officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held Monday, June 23, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home.

   Porfirio “Pilo” Castillo Jr., son of Porfirio and Natalia (Navarro) Castillo Sr., was born March 13, 1963, at Del Rio, Texas. He attended school through the 8th grade and then worked alongside his father as a rancher. Pilo enjoyed ranching and he found a passion for caring and working with horses.

   Pilo was united in marriage with Martha Hernandez. At the urging of Pilo’s brother, Rey, Pilo and Martha moved to Iowa. First, they lived in Sioux Center, then Alvord for a number of years, and in the last few years, they called Rock Valley home. While living in Iowa, Pilo worked in a local machine shop, was a pottery store owner, owned and operated Taco Sport House Restaurant, and during the last couple of years he owned and operated La Taqueria Frontera, a local food truck.

   Pilo loved his family very much, ESPECIALLY his grandchildren! He was always there for them and would do anything to see them smile and hear them laughing. He loved working on cars with his son, Pilo. He was always supportive of his family and friends. Pilo loved to be able to help others.

   Pilo is survived by his wife, Martha; 5 children, Pilo Castillo III, Esmeralda (Emmanuel) Herrera, Erika (Victor) Gonzalez, Fernando Castillo, and Ruben Gonzalez-Castillo; 10 grandchildren, Elias Herrera, Ezequiel Herrera, Emilio Herrera, Elena Herrera, Aracely Castillo, Annalee Gonzalez, Jacob Gonzalez, Cesar Adrian, Yaretz Fernanda, and Yair Emmanuel; mother, Natalia Castillo; and 13 siblings, Cecilio, Armando, Yolanda, Rey, Albert, Rudy, Alfredo, Alonzo, Lorena, Elisa, Alex, Rafael, and Leticia.

   He was preceded in death by his son, Cesar Castillo; father, Porfirio Castillo Sr.; and brother, Carlos Castillo.