Nicholas “Nick” Santos Hernandez-Renfro, 36, of Springfield, gained his eternal wings on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at Springfield Memorial Hospital. The son of Elmer C. and Linda Hernandez Renfro, Nick was born on August 24, 1986, in Springfield. He married Tiffany Liebe on August 11, 2018, and she survives, protected by his loving, faithful, sweet companion T’Challa.

Also surviving are his parents, Elmer C. and Linda (Hernandez) Renfro of Springfield; six sisters, Nicki Renfro, Nani Hernandez, Ericka A. (Julius) White and Bianca Hernandez-Renfro, all of Springfield, Kristin (Anthony) Oden of Decatur and Ashleigh (Ethan) Meiburg of Iowa City, IA. and several beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Nick also leaves behind his father and mother-in-love, Bruce and Christie Liebe of Athens and a number of close friends including his military family, mixed martial arts mentors, and sisters and brothers in blue.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Mira Bella Renfro on August 5, 2020, and one brother, Gerald “Jerry” Renfro.

After graduating from Ursuline Academy in 2004, Nick attended Western Illinois University in Macomb. He was a member of the WIU Rugby Team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, minoring in Fire Science, graduating in 2008.

In 2006, Nick made the decision to serve his country. A decorated Army veteran, Nick served as a combat engineer and, while deployed to Afghanistan, received the Purple Heart for his heroic actions. Nick also served as the Modern Army Combatives instructor for the 832nd Engineer Company.

Since 2011, Nick put his degree to good use and began his career in law enforcement having served as a police officer for the Springfield Park District and later served on the Springfield Police Department where he worked as a Field Training Officer, SWAT Operator, Firearms Instructor, and as a member of the Street Crimes Unit. He also had a passion for coaching fellow officers in defensive tactics, locally and abroad. When our country struggled with a health pandemic and civil unrest, Nick was not deterred and shared his knowledge through podcast and instructional videos in an effort to fill a training void.

Nick was the owner of Paladin Combatives, a premier self-defense training facility specializing in martial arts and combat fitness for adults and children. Hands-on combatives was a passion of Nick’s. He was trained in the Gracie University Jiujitsu system pioneered by Rener Gracie and had the honor of being a direct student of Evandro Nunes. Nick also was a Gracie Survival Tactics instructor, a S.P.E.A.R.(Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response)instructor and a former professional Mixed Martial Artist(MMA).¬¬ In his own gym, he formed a junior MMA class to educate youth on not only the fundamentals of mixed martial arts, but more importantly on how to deal with situations and scenarios involving bullying.

Through his work, including as an officer in the community, his training, and his mentoring, Nick lived to serve others and make a positive impact on their life, no matter how big or small. He enjoyed participating in worthy causes such as the annual Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics; taking children shopping for shoes or supplies to start the school year off right; and being a mentor to at-risk youth. His kindness, empathy, compassion, selflessness, and ability to connect with anyone is evident when looking at the number of lives he has made a positive, lasting impact on. He was a true leader because not only did he constantly seek knowledge, he shared that knowledge with others to make everyone stronger.

To know Nick was to know his smile, his laugh, his hugs, and his love. He strived to be a protector of all on earth, now we will have to settle for him to be our angel and Protector from above as he fly’s high with his beloved daughter Mira in his arms.

May the lessons he shared never be forgotten, and may we carry forward Nick’s passion for helping others.

Nick was a member of Destiny Church.

Visitation: 3 – 7 pm, Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.

Funeral Service: 11:00 am, Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Destiny Church, 1425 North 6th St., with Pastor Jeremy Lewis officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery, where military honors will be conducted.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family for a scholarship fund they are establishing to support youth in underserved populations who need assistance in accessing mixed martial arts training to gain confidence and learn techniques that will assist them in facing adversities and challenges in life.

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