Fortino G. Saenz Iii

Fortino G. Saenz, age 82 was born August 19, 1938 to the late Domingo Saenz, Sr. and Santos Garza Saenz in Falfurrias, Texas.  He was a graduate of Premont High School, Premont, Texas and on December 27, 1959, he married Judith Joanne Burket at the Church of the Brethren in Osceola, Indiana.  Judy preceded him in death, passing away on February 18, 2020 after 60 years of marriage.

Surviving are their children Brenda (Michael) Patterson of Osceola, Indiana and Gregory (Sandra) Saenz of Tippecanoe, Indiana.  Surviving as well are his grandchildren Amber (Jared) Trimble of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Austin Saenz of Elkhart.  Fortino is also survived by his great grandchildren Adalyn and Colson Trimble.  Surviving as well are eight siblings; Domingo (Maria) Saenz, Jr., of Tivoli, Texas, Robert Saenz of Falfurrias, Texas, Jose Humberto Saenz of San Antonio, Texas, Pete (Brenda/Gerri) Cruz of Osceola, Indiana and Daniel Saenz of Falfurrias, Texas, Rafaela (Arturo) Villarreal and Emma (Rodolfo) Vela both of Falfurrias, Texas and Juanita Bozarth of Corpus Christi, Texas.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Gilberto Saenz, Encarnacion Carrasco, Eliodoro Saenz, Maria Barrera, Domitila Medrano, Santos Perez and Rosa Pena.

Visitation will be held from 2-6 pm Sunday November 1, 2020 at Cruz Family Funeral Home in Osceola.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, November 2, 2020 at Cruz Family Funeral Home and Fortino will be laid to rest at a later date on the ranch he grew up on in Falfurrias, Texas.  Strict adherence to the CDC Covid-19 guidelines will be followed and masks will be required for those in attendance. For family and friends joining us from around the United States, please follow this link and log in one half  hour prior to 2:00pm (  Eastern Standard Time) Monday, November 2, 2020 to view services in real time . http://us02web.zoom.us/j/5746748689

Fortino followed his wife Judy to the Elkhart area after they met and fell in love in South Texas.  He was employed as an electrician for many years in the manufactured housing industry and as a purchasing agent at Supreme Corp. in Goshen before his retirement over 30 years ago.

Fortino enjoyed coon hunting and working in his many vegetable gardens.  He was an avid fan of Notre Dame Men’s and Women’s sports, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Chicago White Sox, and in his younger years, he coached city league softball and was an umpire for many years in Elkhart softball leagues.

In lieu of flowers, the Saenz family would rather have you share a favorite story or memory on Fortino’s webpage by following the links provided on the tribute wall tab above.