Juan F. Buentello “John” entered peacefully into eternal rest on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the age of 70.
Born in New Gulf, Texas, he was one of five children and half of the Buentello Twins. Juan moved to Laredo in 1968 and attended Nixon High School where he helped lead the varsity team to District Baseball Championships, winning him a baseball scholarship to St. Edward’s University. He was also part of the pitching duo of the 1970 Big League All-Star Team, winning the Texas Big League Baseball Championship Crown and leading to the team’s induction into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Juan settled in Laredo, Texas to marry his college sweetheart, Sara Duarte, raising six children and eight grandchildren. Juan was popular and well-known, loved by so many in both Laredo and his childhood town of New Gulf. He spent his last years enjoying retirement, basking in his hobbies of baseball, barbecue, wood-working, and grand-parenting. Juan loved his family and pets; he enjoyed a fine smoked brisket, a luscious green lawn, and never missed a Houston Astros game.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Enrique and Eliza, twin brother, Jesse, and sister, Stella.
Juan is survived by his loving wife, Sara and faithful pet, Henri; daughters, Mara Kristina and Erika; sons, Jacob (Roxanne), Juan Roberto, Joseph Nicholas (Leticia), Michael (Christina); grandchildren, Christian, Emma, Kara, Markus Carlo, Kayla, Rianna, Gia, and Helio; sisters, Amelia (Derly+) Gonzalez and Angie (Alejandro) Hernandez; and lifelong friends and compadres, Pancho (Cynthia) Ramirez, Javier Ramirez, Gera Ramirez, Poncho (Alicia) Flores, Jose Luis (Josie) Lara, Neto Herrera and Jose Salinas; his favorite aunt, Mrs. Cande Granados; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
A Memorial Visitation will be held on Monday, May 16, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a Holy Rosary commencing at 7:00 pm at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services. A Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 9:30 am at San Martin De Porres Catholic Church located at 1704 Sandman St., Laredo, TX 78041.
Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com