CUERO - Baldemar "Balde" M. Saenz Sr., 67, of Cuero, passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 in Victoria. He was born July 31, 1941, in Yorktown, to the late Guadalupe Munoz and Eusebio Saenz Sr. He married Helen Solis on Sept. 14, 1963 in Cuero. He was a carpenter, a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and had resided in the Cuero community since 1946.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughter, Margaret MacDonald and husband Stephen of Corpus Christi; sons, Baldemar M. Saenz Jr. and wife Elsie of Corpus Christi and Mayor Randy Saenz and wife Natalie of Cuero; sisters, Dora Lopez and husband Alex of Cuero, Ernstine Arroyo and husband Gregory of Cuero, and Eloisa Nieto and husband Joe of Moulton; brothers, Robert Saenz of Cuero and Enrique Saenz and wife Shirley of Cuero; brother-in-law, Martin Torres (husband of sister, Elisa) of Cuero; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Rene Saenz; sister, Elisa Torres; brother, Eusebio Saenz Jr.; sister-in-law, Josephine Saenz (wife of brother, Robert); and granddaughter, Skylann Celeste Saenz.

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. today, Feb. 25, 2009, with a rosary recited at 7 p.m., at Freund Funeral Home in Cuero. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the Rev. Kirby Hlavaty officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Cuero.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cuero.

Freund Funeral Home, Cuero, 361-275-2343.