Gilberto Cendejas- Perez

Gilberto Cendejas Perez passed away in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 20, 2025, at the age of 69. Born in La Yerbabuena, Michoacán, Mexico, on May 28, 1956, to Juvencio Cendejas Luna and Evelia Pérez Soria.

He began migrating to Florida with his family at the age of sixteen to work in the orange groves. He settled down and started a family in Davenport, Florida, in 1980. Soon after, he began Cendejas Harvesting and moved his family and operations to Arcadia, Florida, where he proudly lived until his death. In the nineties, he opened his first Mexican grocery store in Arcadia, La Tapatia Mexican Grocery, and started seven more stores across the state of Florida. He then started and led Cendejas Enterprises, which encompassed all his business endeavors. He was a leader and visionary in the Hispanic community, with over 40 years of business success, who made significant contributions to the economy of DeSoto County.

In his free time, he enjoyed the outdoor farm life, horses, singing his favorite live music, mariachi and banda, and hosting friends and family at his beloved ranch, Rancho La Yerbabuena, named after his hometown in Mexico. He especially loved to celebrate birthdays. He will be remembered as a happy, fun-loving, and hardworking man who loved people and enjoyed life.

Gilberto is survived by his wife, Marian Cendejas, children, Yesenia Reta (Julio), Sandra Ochoa (Jorge), Gilberto Cendejas Jr. (Alejandra), Estefania Cendejas, and his Stepchildren, Edward Paul Quintero, Santiago Quintero Jr. and Maribel Quintero, grandchildren: Janessa, Natalia, Esmeralda, Aziel, Fares, Abigail, and Gilberto III.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Maria Evelia Castro, and survived by his siblings Jorge Cendejas, Esther Cendejas, Salvador Cendejas, Juvencio Cendejas, Rosa Elena Garcia, Roberto Cendejas, extended family, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends and Family are invited to attend the visitation at Rancho La Yerbabuena, 4673 SW Bull Pond St, Arcadia, Fl, on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5 pm-8 pm. The mass followed by the burial and celebration of life will be held at St Ann's Catholic Church 1311 Robinson Dr. in Haines City, Florida, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 11 am. Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery 2899-26-77 Grace Ave in Haines City, Fl.

Online condolences can be made at www.pongerkaysgrady.com.

Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes & Cremation Services have been entrusted with the arrangements.