Roy Saldana

June 1, 1937 to August 19, 2021

Obituary

Roy Saldana was born in San Antonio, TX. June 1, 1937 son of the late Victor and Rita (Nee: Becerra) Saldana. Roy moved to Racine in the 1950’s where he obtained his Journeyman License in masonry and enjoyed that line of work for years. He earned a degree in Ministry from Ebenezer Bible Institute in Waukegan Illinois and later ran a mission in San Antonio Texas. He purchased and managed several rental units enjoying a side career as a landlord in San Antonio, Texas and Racine, WI.

On December 8, 1996, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Hernandez/Garcia. Roy was an active member of Racine Assembly of God where he enjoyed serving in various capacities such as co-teaching bible studies with his wife, acting in productions, ushering and interpreting for mission trips to South and Central America. He also loved music; wherein, he loved traveling and singing harmony with “La Familia En Cristo”, a Christian band. He played accordion, guitar and was teaching himself to play violin.

He was an avid fisherman who took it upon himself to teach everyone in the family to fish. For more than 20 years, each summer he also taught 40 children to fish at the Royal Family Kids Camp where he was known as “Fisherman Grandpa”. Roy was also an avid golfer who was willing to share his enthusiasm of the game to anyone who wanted to learn. One of his greatest pastimes was hunting for treasures at estate and/or yard sales.

Surviving is his wife, Mary Jane Saldana who confesses that it was an honor to be married to Roy for almost 25 years! His children are Hope & Louie Grijalva, Olga & Reyes Santos, Victor & Yolanda Perez, David & Debi Garcia and Laurie & Mike Jackson. 18 Grandchildren, 31 Great Grandchildren and 9 Great-Great Grandchildren.

His siblings are Victor Saldana, Dolores (Jose) Reyes, Socorro (Adalberto) Paz, Thomas Garcia and Jaime Garcia. He is further survived by others who cherished their special relationships with him, including countless Nephews and Nieces, Aunts & Uncles, Brothers-in-law & Sisters-in-law. Celebrating Roy’s “well lived life” is a multitude of Special Friends and a myriad of beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his late wife Francisca Rocha, his daughter Beatrice Perez, his siblings Eduardo and Irene Saldana and his parents.

Text

Psalm 116:15 ESV

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Personal Thoughts

Roy loved Jesus, loved his family, and loved the community of believers.

He would often get emotional whenever talking about Jesus.