×

Local man’s death causes heartbreak, financial struggles for family

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Enrique Maravilla Avalos died after falling while replacing gutters at the Mowry Irvine Mansion, 503 W. Main St. on Wednesday night.

Enrique Maravilla Avalos was roofing to help support his family.

His restaurant Tacos y Mariscos Maravilla was damaged by the tornado and he needed another way to make money while arrangements for a taco truck he hoped to open in January were completed.

On Wednesday night, Enrique, 50, died after falling while replacing gutters at the Mowry Irvine Mansion, 503 W. Main St. The building, headquarters for the Historical Society of Marshall County, is under construction due to tornado damage.

Marshalltown Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Cross said emergency crews responded to the scene about 5 p.m. Wednesday on report of a critically injured man who had fallen from a roof. He was then transported to UnityPoint’s emergency room where he died.

‘Shocked’

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Most of his popular dishes included seafood — shrimp wrapped in bacon and bagre sarandiado (pictured) were some of his better known meals.

Feller Roofing in Marshalltown is the contracted company repairing the roof and gutters at the property. Scott Feller, project manager, said the organization is heartbroken for the family.

Enrique was employed as a subcontractor with Garcia Gutters, based out of Omaha, and was on the site to replace a gutter when he fell from the ladder. Any worker’s compensation would have to go through Garcia Gutters.

“We’re shocked and saddened this tragedy occurred on our property and our sympathies are with the family and their loss,” HSMC Administrator Michelle Roseburrough said.

The HSMC, Feller Roofing and Garcia Gutters have been in touch with law enforcement, insurance providers and OSHA since the afternoon of the incident. OSHA did not give a citation to Feller Roofing during an on-site visit Friday. OSHA’s investigation with Garcia Gutters is still ongoing, however.

Enrique’s family is set to meet with a lawyer on Monday.

T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ His restaurant Tacos y Mariscos Maravilla was damaged by the tornado and he was roofing to make money while arrangements for a taco truck were completed.

The Holiday Market at the Mansion, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the mansion, will still be held as the on-site investigation is complete.

Love of cooking

Growing up in Patatan, Michoacan, Mexico, he was surrounded by fishing and cooking from a young age. It’s why his most popular dishes all included seafood — shrimp wrapped in bacon and bagre sarandiado were some of his better known meals.

Enrique came to the United States when he was 17 or 18, his family said. He became a citizen to help his wife, Cristina Maravilla, become a permanent resident. The two had met in Mexico and still have family there.

He took his kids to where he grew up, showed them what it was like living on the peninsula and told them about what life was like there, his daughter Berenice Garcia Maravilla said. The kids grew up in Marshalltown where the couple eventually settled. Cristina works for JBS.

Enrique worked at the restaurant in downtown Marshalltown for four or five years, Berenice said. When the tornado came, it miraculously didn’t shatter any windows, but internal damage caused molding which forced them to close for repairs.

The family said he cooked for those affected at the business and out of their home — also located on the north part of town — immediately after the storm.

“He would always help … always feed everyone,” Berenice said.

When he wasn’t cooking, he liked helping around the house and hanging out with family.

“He always wanted to be busy so he wouldn’t think bad thoughts,” Berenice said.

The Maravillas future

Enrique leaves behind four kids — Berenice, Jocelyn Maravilla, Cristopher Maravilla and Luis Enrique Maravilla — as well as grandkids. Berenice is four months pregnant and said she is sad her father will never get to meet the baby.

Enrique was working to open a taco truck in place of the downtown business. He wanted his family to help run it. Berenice said they will open the truck to honor him when it is ready, which they estimate will be in January.

“It was his will for us to work on it,” Berenice said.

The family said the accident and not having his income will cause financial challenges, but they will try to work extra in the meantime.

Cristina said Enrique had always talked about being buried in Mexico. It was a running joke in the family because they would poke fun at him because he’d lived here longer and he would always get riled up about it. They plan to send him back to Mexico and have a resting place there.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses. The fundraiser can be found by searching “Maravilla Jocelyn” at www.gofundme.com and the title is “father passed away.”

The T-R’s Sara Jordan-Heintz and Mike Donahey contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: The article was updated to reflect that Enrique was replacing gutters not roofing when the accident occurred.

——

Contact Emily Barske at (641) 753-6611 or ebarske@timesrepublican.com

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today