Carlos "Chuck "Ortiz Jr., 68, born in Chicago, Illinois and was a resident of Osteen, Florida for over 30 years. He passed away at his home with his beloved mother at his side on Saturday, October 28, 2023, following a courageous struggle with Lymphoma cancer.

Chuck spent his teenage years growing up in Deer Park, Texas before moving to Florida in 1978. He did a variety of jobs including carpet installation, flooring, and finally started his own landscape and lawn service maintenance company in 1988 along with his lifetime partner, Chris. Chuck was a hard worker, a fast learner, and attended a local community college horticulture class to increase his knowledge and love for plants. He learned at an early age strong work ethics, modeled by his parents.

Chuck grew up in a household of four sisters, never getting a word in edgewise. As the only boy in a household of five children, he was fortunate to have his own bedroom, which became a haven to escape from all the girls. He always made time for family events and special celebrations even if it meant he had to travel long distances to reach his extended family.

Chuck was a lifetime learner and he liked adventures. In his early twenties, he did a thirty day backpacking trip in YellowStone National Park, other National Parks, and hiked through the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in California. He went through EMT training, then he trained for scuba diving under the renowned late instructor Wesley Skiles and received his certification in cave diving.

In Chuck's later adult years, he became an avid mountain bike rider. He met many lifelong friends along the trails. He loved to travel throughout the United States looking and experiencing new biking trails. This new hobby brought tremendous joy to Chuck's life, not only the physical challenges but the close personal friendships he made.

His most recent endeavor was learning how to grow and cultivate bamboo. He was a member of the American Bamboo Society. He attended an ABS conference in Sebastian, Florida and built a bamboo fence and was featured in their Fall 2022 Magazine.

Chuck is survived by his partner, Christopher Almekinder; mother, Victoria Ortiz; sisters, Christine Ortiz-Gatlin, Nancy DeCoster, Cindy (Phil) Stolarski, Linda Ortiz; and many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, nieces, aunts, cousins, and devoted friends.
He is preceded in death by his father Carlos Ortiz; and his aunt, Irma Orihuela Montoya.

Friends and family are invited to gather in Chuck's honor on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 11:00 am at 960 Catfish Road, Osteen, Florida 32764.