Henry Bernal Saenz

Dateline: Alton Henry Bernal Saenz, 89, died at 3:29 p.m. peacefully on Monday, September 30, 2013. Born July 7, 1924 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, he was the son of Marcos and Alice (Bernal) Saenz. Henry served in the Army Air Corps as a radio operator from 1943-1945. On July 11, 1945 he married the former Jo Alice Barnerd in Wichita Falls, TX. She preceded him in death on October 3, 2004. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1308, the American Legion, the Alton Eagles Foe No. 254, and the Alton Knights of Columbus. He was a charter member of the Alton Exchange where he served as past District President and past National President. He was also a member of the North Alton Godfrey Business Council, the Riverbend Growth Association, the Alton Wood River Sportsman’s Club, the Junior Achievement, and was instrumental in the incorporation of the Godfrey Township. Henry ran the family owned Barleff’s Menswear in Alton from December 1946 until January 2012. Surviving are a daughter, Diane Saenz of Alton, two sons, Marc B. Saenz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and James E. Saenz (Melissa) of Godfrey, 10 grandchildren, Regan Jones (Cindy), Ian Jones (fiancé Jeanne), Jennifer Dykeman (Andy), Stephanie Bauer (Steve), Rebecca Elliott (Mike), Brian Saenz (Kristen), Rachel Waters (Brandon), Jessica Ruedin (Ike), Matthew Saenz, and Megan Saenz, 16 great grandchildren, Kegan, Lukas, and Quinn Jones, and Tanner Schaefer, Liam and Adaela Jones, Samantha and Sarah Bauer, Elizabeth Foster and Samantha Elliott, Dillon and Henry Ruedin, Madeline and Catherine Saenz, Eli and Simon Waters, one sister, Ernestine Chavarria, and six brothers, Adolpho, Marcos, Daniel, Samuel, William and Carl Saenz. Along with his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Brian Henry Saenz, and a sister, Alice Mae Rodriquez. Henry was an avid golfer, a wonderful man who never met a stranger and was beloved by his family, friends and the community. A memorial Mass will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 4, 2013 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey. Burial will be private at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey with full military honors by the VFW Post 1308. Memorials may be made to the Henry Saenz Scholarship Fund at St. Ambrose School. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. PDF Printable Version

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Henry Bernal Saenz

July 7, 1924 - September 30, 2013