Natividad “Nat” Iglesias, Jr. heard the Lord’s call and went home to be with Him on January 31, 2023 surrounded by his wife and daughters, at the age of 70.

Nat was born in Alton, Texas on February 6, 1952, to Natividad and Guadalupe Iglesias. He was the eldest son of nine siblings, including Mary, Tina, Moy, Delores, Ferm, Angel, Marcy, and Maribel. He grew up in humble beginnings traveling throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to assist his father and mother by picking cotton, fruits, and vegetables as a migrant worker. He had one pair of shoes which he wore for school, sports, and to go to church. His most vivid memory as a child was running barefoot for half a mile in the cold and icy conditions to get his grandmother to help his infant sister. He was determined to save her so she would not succumb to the bitter, harsh weather Texas was facing. Nat was artistic, athletic, and the life of the party when he went dancing on Friday nights. He graduated from Mission High School, class of 1971 and was nominated and won for Best All Around his senior year.

At one of those high school dances, he met eyes with a beautiful young lady from McAllen, Tonette Guerra. Although several of his friends wanted to ask her to dance, he said, “Not a chance” and went right up to her and asked her to dance. The rest became Nat and Tonette’s love story and they would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

In 1979, Nat moved his family from the Valley to Laredo, Texas and began working for Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement 30 years later. Throughout Nat’s life he studied the word of God daily, played football, baseball, basketball, and golf, hunted with his brothers and son, fished, drew and sketched, a master carpenter, cheered and got mad with the Dallas Cowboys and enjoyed the outdoors at his ranch “El Belduque.” He worked hard for his family, always told his children “We’re the best in the world” and completely melted for each one of his five granddaughters.

Nat would start each day saying, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Each day let us find laughter and humor, live life to the fullest, be grateful and thankful for what God has given us. He wanted us to remember what he wrote in his bible, “Study leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to understanding, understanding leads to WISDOM.”

Nat is preceded in death and now joined in heaven with his loving son, Eric Gabriel Iglesias of Laredo, his parents Natividad Iglesias, Sr. and Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño-Iglesias of Mission and his in-laws, Joe G. and Lillie M. Guerra of McAllen, Texas.

Left in the caring hands of God is his beloved wife and “mera mera” of forty-nine years; Tonette Iglesias; “in the history of the world the best daughters”; Lillie Christine Rendón, Sarah Elena Butler and Marlene Jeanette Gonzales; his sons-in-law, but whom he considered his sons, Ricardo “Rick” Rendón, Luis A. Butler and Zach R. Gonzales; his granddaughters who were his “Beautifuls”; Jasmine Christine Rendón, Faith Victoria Butler, Grace Elena Butler, Hope Alexandra Butler and Shea Ryiel Gonzales; his sisters and brothers; Mary (Albert) Cantu, Tina (Leonel) Flores, Moy (Iris) Iglesias, Delores Lopez, Fermin Iglesias, Angel (Selma) Iglesias, Marcy (Larry) Garza and Maribel (Chris) Chandler; and numerous nephews, nieces, family and friends.

The Iglesias family would like to thank Dr. Mary Casiwa, Compassus Hospice Team including Rachel, Kayla, Tinesha, Bonnie, and Champlain Bob for their unwavering care, compassion and love they showed for Nat.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Fred Dickey Funeral home, 1320 Trey Dr., on Wednesday, February 8th from 5:30-9:00 pm with a prayer starting at 7:00 pm. Abiding with Nat’s request he will be cremated.

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