Martin “Buddy” Natalio Semper passed away with his family by his side in his home on November 27, 2018. He was 80 years old. Martin was born in 1938 in Fresno, California. His parents were Martin John Semper and Lita Ann Semper. He is survived by his wife April Semper, sister Marlita Ferriea, brother Jon Semper and wife Jody Semper, son Martin Steven Semper, daughter Elena Maria Semper Krikorian and husband Rick Krikorian, son Mark Natalio Semper, and grandchildren Nathan, Kristina, Lauren, Natalia and Nika. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Jeanene Kathleen Semper and brother in law Walt Ferriea. As a child Martin enjoyed music and participating in Catholic Mass as an altar boy. He developed his work ethic early in life by watching his father Marty and uncle Mike running the trucks. It is also from his father that he learned how to fish. Some say his “reel” fishing techniques are from Marty.
Martin graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1956. After several years at Fresno State, he started working for his father in the family trucking business, Semper Truck Lines, and eventually became a partner with his father Martin Semper and uncle Mike Semper. In 1959, he fell in love with and married Joyce Riedenauer and began his family having 4 children over the next 5 years. He got things done! He spent a large portion of his life working with his father Marty and brother Jon in the trucking business where they were the primary transporter of cotton throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Cotton was king, and he took great pride in maintaining his relationships with his clients. His interests ranged from building drag boats, crewing for hard top racers, to waterskiing, snow skiing, and traveling with friends and family. He also was an avid San Francisco 49’s fan and loved collecting guns.
His talents were equally as diverse, from welding, painting and anything related to trucks, cars, motorcycles and boats. He also enjoyed cooking and barbequing. Later in life he continued to enjoy fishing with his family and many fishing buddies. He became a master in making his own original fishing lures. In 1994, he landed the big one and met the love of his life April Morton. They have been together for 25 years. He once said, “she is the only one who could properly worm his hook.” They shared their lives with family and friends. Some of their best moments were spent exchanging witty banter while doing crosswords puzzles over coffee. He traveled with April all over the world including cruises to Alaska and the Baltic Sea, and road trips to Kansas. She was his wife and friend to the very end.
As his time on this earth became limited, the value of his family became most important to him. He said, “never do anything so bad that you can’t take it back” and “we are better together as a family than separate”. He always worked hard to keep his family close, and cherished the time spent with his children and grandchildren. Although he is no longer with us, he will always remain in our hearts and souls. He will be dearly missed but we look forward the day when we are all together again.
The family would like to thank all the medical professionals and care givers who helped us ease his passing including Dr. Hackett and Nancy Hinds Hospice.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Monday, December 10, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Graveside Service will be held at St. Peter's Cemetery on December 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.1