Vince Cortese

Funeral services for Mr. Vince Philip Cortese, 96, of Little River will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Temple.  Visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.

He passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019 at Park Place Manor in Belton.

He was born July 24, 1923 in Temple, Texas to Philip George and Catherine Bilello Cortese.  He attended school in San Angelo and joined the United States Navy in August 1941 and served with the Naval Air Corps during World War II.  He married Ruth Steglich on November 4, 1951 in Bartlett, Texas. He farmed and ranched in Bell County for 65 years.   He was a member of Bell County Farm Bureau, Young Farmers of Texas, and the Elks Lodge. He was a director of ASCS, now known as Farm Service Agency for over 25 years.  Member of Farm Credit System and member of Capital Farm Credit for 65 years. Vince also organized the local chapter of the National Farmers Organization.  Vince served on the Academy ISD School Board, the First Lutheran Church Council, and as the executive member of the Bell County Republican Party, serving as a precinct chairman and election judge for many years.  He was also part owner of Blackland Grain and Storage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth Steglich Cortese; four sisters, Georgia Mae Mapes, Ann Fuentes, Nancy Marie Miller, and Jean Cortese.

He is survived by his two sons, Richard Frank Cortese and wife Nancy, and Perry Don Cortese; two daughters, Jackie McLaughlin and Beverly Simmang and husband Michael; two brothers, Frank Cortese and Salvador Cortese; one sister, Jannie Harding; seven grandchildren, Christina McLaughlin Demirs and husband, Ed, Katherine Mendoza and husband, Ricky, Joseph Anthony Cortese and wife, Heather, Ashley Kemp, Kurt Moyer, Shandra Flores, and Jasmine Meade; seven great grandchildren; as well as many other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice.