Juan Leon Gonzalez
June 12, 1933 - June 14, 2019
Obituary
Juan Leon Gonzalez, 86, of Renton, Washington, passed away June 14, 2019.
Juan was born June 12, 1933 in Edinburg, Texas to Sofia (Galaviz) and Aristeo Gonzalez, both originally of Doctor Arroyo, Nuevo León, Mexico. He was the youngest of six, having three brothers (Antonio, Filipe and Hector) and two sisters (Maria and Lupe). They lived on their ranch in Hidalgo County until the family moved north to the Yakima, Washington area in 1943, where Juan worked as a local truck driver in his teens.
He served in the US Army from 1953-1955 and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). He was also a member of Teamsters Union Local 174. Juan married Carmen Escajeda Sierra on January 21, 1956 in Tulare, California, and they moved to the Seattle area in 1957 where they started their family. He was employed as a truck driver by the Bissinger Hide Company and went on to own his own trucking business.
He is survived by his children John (Olga), Maria (James), Gloria, Sofia, Elizabeth, Michael (Melinda), Rebecca (Martin), Loretta and Johnny Keith; 29 grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two sons Gabriel and Daniel.
Juan enjoyed his retirement, visiting the local swap meet, fixing and trading cars, and most of all, doting on his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved him so much. He will be greatly missed.
A graveside service with military honors will be held Friday, June 21 at 2:15 pm at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Cemetery, 16445 International Blvd., SeaTac, WA 98188.
Dear family, I am sorry for the pain you are going through right now. I would like to express my sympathy to the family and that you receive comfort in the knowledge that others are thinking and praying for you. I hope that you receive consolation from the God who gives comfort. The Bible says Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 3 and 4.