Henry Gutierrez

HENRY EDWARD GUTIERREZ

July 24, 1932 – December 31, 2020

Henry Edward Gutierrez peacefully left the earth on December 31, 2020, the anniversary of his honorable separation from the U.S. Marine Corps. Gutierrez was born in 1932 to Bernabe and Piedad A. Gutierrez in Detroit, Michigan. The eighth of 12 children, Gutierrez grew up in San Ygnacio where he tended to the family ranch alongside his father and brothers.

Gutierrez had a love for baseball and played for Zapata, pitching at over 90 mph. However, the love for the sport would take a detour as he proudly enlisted in the Marines to serve his country in the Korean War. He endured the bitter cold winter, fighting as member of the 1st Marine Regiment. Gutierrez operated machine guns in the trenches alongside men who would become lifelong comrades.

At 19, Gutierrez was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a grenade attack. Gutierrez was additionally awarded a Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal. Those who were lucky to have crossed paths with him were treated to remarkable recounts of his time at war. In his later years, Gutierrez would proudly salute the younger generation in uniform whenever he saw them in public.

Following his honorable discharge, he returned stateside, where he met and married Marta Y. Guerrero. The two would start a family, raising six beautiful children. Gutierrez continued to serve his country through his career with U.S. Customs, retiring in 1979. Thereafter, Gutierrez enjoyed his time at the ranch, spending time with his family, getting coffee with his friends and traveling with his wife to annual Marine Conventions and attending many Laredo Bucks Hockey games.

Gutierrez was a talented artist, who filled rooms with his deep singing voice and transformed napkins into works of arts, often sketching cowboy caricatures.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bernabe and Piedad A. Gutierrez; siblings, Antonio Gutierrez, Clelia (Luis) Quintañilla, Esperanza (Baldemar) Barron, Maria Francisca (Frank) Logan, Candelaria Fasci, Israel Gutierrez, Yolanda (Roberto) Sanchez, Fernando Gutierrez, and Ricardo Gutierrez; brother-in-laws, David Hachar and Juan G. Guerrero.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 60 years, Marta Y. Gutierrez; children, Marta T. (Larry) Farlin, Marisela (Gerardo) Castañeda, Melissa (Eric) Garcia, Mariana Gutierrez, Henry E. Gutierrez II and Bernabe G. Gutierrez; siblings, Javier Gutierrez and Guillermina G. Hachar; sister-in-laws, Emma C. Gutierrez, Marina Gutierrez, Sara R. Gutierrez, and Norma Guerrero.

Gutierrez will live on through his three grandchildren, Margaret (Matthew) Farlin Forbes, Andrea Ari Castañeda, and Eric A. Garcia; great grandchild, Theodore Matteo Farlin Forbes; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to his caretakers, Josefina Martinez and Ismael “Rocket” Juarez.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.  All attending are asked to meet at the church.

Rite of Committal and Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Laredo City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Henry E. Gutierrez II, Bernabe G. Gutierrez, Gerardo Castañeda, Eric Garcia,

Eric A. Garcia and Francisco Javier Gutierrez.

SEMPER-FI and OORAH!

You may extend your condolences to the family at:  www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040, 956.722.0001