Hernandez, Francisco "Frank" Virgen 1932-2016

HERNANDEZ, VIRGEN, GUTIERREZ, RIVERA, SENNEFF, ESTRADA, VILLALOBOS, SALDANA

Posted By: NettieMae
Date: 1/5/2017 at 18:45:29

Francisco "Frank" Virgen Hernandez, age 84, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. A Funeral Mass will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 10, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna, with Father Moises Apostol as Celebrant. Burial will take place in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 11:00-1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, prior to the mass. Memorials may be given to Connections Memory Care Unit at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Frank's memory. Friends and family are invited to share in Frank's life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.
Frank was born October 10, 1932 in Del Rio, Texas, the son of Leonardo and Rosa (Virgen) Gutierrez. He attended San Felipe High School in Del Rio, Texas. Being the oldest of ten children, Frank left school early and began working to help support his family as a migrant worker. He worked for the Savanna Army Depot and later the Milwaukee Railroad as a Carman Welder for many years, until his retirement in 1995. Frank married JoAnn "Lena" Rivera on December 8, 1952 in Savanna. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary today.
Frank was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. Frank loved spending time outdoors, especially flower gardening and landscaping. Frank was a great handyman and could fix anything. He was also a great cook—especially cooking Mexican food. He enjoyed watching western movies and the Andy Griffith Show. Frank also enjoyed watching sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Most of all, Frank loved spending time with his family.
Frank will be dearly missed by his wife Lena; six children, Dan (Kris Plattenberger) Hernandez of Savanna, Kathy (Tom) Senneff of Savanna, Cindy Estrada of Sterling, Illinois, Pam (Ranulfo) Villalobos of Savanna, John (Yvette) Hernandez of Phoenix, Arizona, and Thomas (Michelle) Hernandez of Horse Shoe, North Carolina; 17 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; one brother, Ruben Gutierrez of Del Rio, Texas; and one sister, Pompella Saldaña of Burley, Idaho.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents Leonardo and Rosa, and an infant son, Thomas; five brothers; two sisters; and one brother in-law, Saul Saldaña.