Juan “John” Francisco Gallegos March 30, 1936 - July 21, 2022

Born March 30, 1936 In Taos New Mexico.  Died July 21, 2022 in Turlock, CA.

Mother,  Guadalupe (Lupe) (Lupita) Anglada (D.) and father, Florestino Gallegos (D.).

One of six siblings; Claude Gallegos (D. 1999), Ray Gallegos (D. 2017), Gilbert Gallegos (D), Bernie Gallegos, Mary Ann Vigil (Gallegos) (D), Lawrence Galleogs and Jerry Gallegos (D. 1993).

Father of three; Alicia Duffy (Gallegos) of Turlock CA, Anthony Gallegos of Modesto CA and John F Gallegos (D. 2011).

Grandfather of seven: Jennifer Guzman of NC, Nicole Guzman of CA, Kylie Duffy of CA and Zackary Duffy of CA, Derrick Wawrzyniak of WA, Jordan Gallegos of CA, Arianna Gallegos of WA,

Uncle and cousin to many in Colorado and California.

He was known as John by friends, coworkers and loved ones. He was raised in the San Luis Valley of CO.  He lived in Saguache and Moffat most of his life.  He grew up in a full household and did chores to help feed and care for the family. He graduated High School in 1955 (Hooper CO) and went into the US Navy.  

He served aboard the wooden minesweeper, USS Energy.  He worked in the boiler room and was designated as a rescue swimmer even though he never learned how to swim. He was Honorably Discharged.

John went to work for the US Postal Service in Hayward CA.  He married Anne Rice in 1967.  He divorced Anne in 1973.  He retired from the Postal Service and worked several jobs.  He worked with his brothers Ray and Claude doing tile work and he worked as a truck driver.

John returned to Saguache in the late eighties and lived in town for awhile.  He bought a small ranch near Moffat, CO, and made that his home.

John was determined to be fully disabled form the US Navy from exposure to asbestos.  John’s health declined and he moved to Turlock CA in 2019 where his daughter cared for him around the clock.  John became more infirm and eventually could not recover.  John passed away in his sleep in the afternoon of July, 21, 2022.

John did not want a service and he requested that he be cremated.  John wanted to be spread on a mountain top overlooking Saguache and the remainder of his ashes will be entered in the family area of Chicago Cemetery, West of Saguache, CO.