Juan C. Gonzales, 91, went to be with his Heavenly Father on January 12, 2024, surrounded by his family at Chimney Rock Villa in Bayard, Nebraska. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 A.M on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Bayard with Pastor Javier Parra officiating. Interment will follow at Bayard City Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, January 22, 2024, from 4-6pm at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials in Juan’s honor may be made to Chimney Rock Villa in Bayard. Online Condolences may be left at www.bridmganfuneralhome.com.
Juan was born August 3, 1932, in Magnolia, Texas to Guadalupe and Emma (Castillo) Gonzales. Juan and his family moved to Bayard from Brush, Colorado in 1970, after his father’s death, to take care of his mother Emma. He made Bayard his home and raised his six children alone. He worked for the Chester Bean Brown (Kelley Bean Co.) for 23 years, and seasonally for the Bayard Cemetery for 27 years.
He was a member of the Shalom Centro Cristiano Church in Scottsbluff for many years. Juan was the foundation of his family and always had a smile and Heart of Gold. He was always lending a helping hand to anyone that needed support.
Juan was an avid sports fan, especially watching Nebraska football, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Colorado Rockies! His favorite drink was Pepsi. He was most proud of his family, especially his grandchildren. Every chance he had, he would always talk about how much they meant to him and their achievements, and from time to time he would have the “Grandpa Talk” with them.
Juan is preceded in death by his parents Guadalupe and Emma; two brothers Stephen and Pablo Gonzales, as well as two sisters Rose Bouws and Virginia Galindo.
Left to cherish his memory are his six children Christina of Ogden, KS, Juan Jr. (Naomi) of Phoenix, AZ, Rose (Darin) Downs of Greeley, CO, David (Kayla AKA Taylor) of Bayard, NE, Guadalupe Gonzales of Bayard, NE, and Juanita (Jose) Salinas of Ogden, KS; brother Samuel C. Gonzales, two sisters Consuelo Urdiales and Sara Galindo, as well as eleven grandchildren.