The CPC family was so pleased to have John with us for the last part of his journey.  a great 94+ years of LIFE!!
Pastor Mike Conan - Christ Presbyterian Church

Dear Aunt Olga and Cousins Joe and Tommy,

So sad that we have lost an integral member of our family, dear Uncle John. Growing up, I remember John always present in our traditional family gatherings and celebrations. Quiet but smiling, he would try to dance to the latin beat and enjoyed the typical Puerto Rican goodies cooked by our mothers, aunts and grandmother.  

I came to know Uncle John better during my adulthood when he and Aunt Olga came to visit me in Caracas, Venezuela. We had our share of adventures and laughs when we travelled to a camp near the Amazons. I had the chance to learn of his childhood in the farm, army career, and his political views.  We were blessed to have him in our lives, and can learn much about him. I will remember him fondly with great respect for his commitment to his family and country. 

Our prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.  God bless all of you.  Love, Helen & Ted

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for the kind words you have said and written about my father.  Yes, he was quite a guy...He was a very humble man and always seemed to be in control.  He wasn't a tea-totaler, but knew the importance of moderation.  I never heard him boast or bragg about what he had done, although his accomplishments were many.  Nor did he fall into the trap of criticizing or finding fault in others.  His comments were usually about how fortunate he was in his life and had compassion for those less fortunate. What great way to be...Dad was a man of few words and for whatever reason didn't show much emotion but, I always knew how much he loved us. I can't remember tight hugs from him but, I do remember a firm hand shake as we looked eachother in the eye. He was never hesitant to tell me "No" when he knew I was too young to make the right decision and as I grew older he was never heavy-handed in trying to help me make the right decision. He was always suttle in his advise and never questioned my decisions.  Even if deep down he didn't agree.  He let me experience my life, stepped back and held his breath---I'm sure prayer was involved.  I'm pretty sure at some point in my life I let my dad down but,I know, as a father myself, a father always forgives their children no matter what..."a father's love is forever".  Some of you may not know this but, dad was my best man in Sharon's and my wedding...in some ways he was more than a dad...especially when he and mom came out to live with us in 2004.  It was a good eight years....I miss you dad....and I love you...don't worry about mom...we'll take care of her and I promise to be gentle...your loving son, Tom

well grampa and gramma have thier boys home and the family is together at last. as hard as it is for those of us left behind to carry on we know that we will see them again. joe and tommy i feel your pain and i know that it is  an ache that will never truly fade . but now is also a time give thanks for the wonderful life that uncle john lived and remember all the ways that he touched our lives. the torch is now passed to our generation to have a positive effect on our children in the same way we were positivly effected by our parents. give your mom my love and tell her i still enjoy her spanish rice recipe and will pass iton to the next generation of great bean cooks ( kolton and kaleb ) know that you are in my prayers during this trying time. if you need me talk to just call 24/7      nate

My deepest sympathy to Olga, Joe and Tommy.

It seems to me that Uncle John lived a really good life. It was long, he was loved, he was respected, he was honorable - in a way none of us are in the 21st Century. My Dad, his brother, spoke about John as if he were a knight in shining armor. John's sacrifices for his family during the great depression and after were never forgotten and were handed down so that we would understand who our Uncle John was. 

But my memories of John were all about FUN. I had the pleasure of vacationing with Olga and John numerous times as an adult. He was the guy who would follow along - no matter what Olga and I cooked up to do. No complaining - just happy and full of good humor. 

I have so many fun memories but one stands out: both John and I were visiting my Mom and Dad in Johnston City, Illinois. It was the 4th of July, a big evening of fireworks in the City Park were planned and Mom and Dad had a part in the program so John and I walked down in the evening and set our chairs up. Well, at dark the fireworks began. They would play patriotic music, and read patriotic poems then shoot off a firework. JUST ONE! After about 10 minutes John and I began laughing - for hours we laughed. We just cracked up. It took 2 hours to shoot off 20 fireworks. We were sick with laughter for days afterwards. We laughed and laughed. I was 26 years old and it was a turning point. We were fast friends after that and every time we were together our time was filled with laughter.

Bless his heart - I'm going to imagine him meeting his Mom and Dad and my Mom and Dad inside the gates of heaven. No tears only JOY at the arrival of a most honorable son and brother. Laughing and greeting each other with JOY!

Grace Bean
Littleton, MA

My deepest sympathy to Olga, Joe and Tommy. 

It seems to me that Uncle John lived a really good life. It was long, he was loved, he was respected, he was honorable - in a way that none of us are in the 21st century. My Dad, his brother, spoke about John as if he were a knight in shining armor. John's sacrafices for his family during the great depression and after were never forgotten and were a part of the history that Dad handed down to us so that we could know who our Uncle was. But my memories of Uncle John are all about fun. I had the pleasure of vacationing with John and Olga numerous times as an adult. He was the guy who would follow along, no matter what Olga and I cooked up to do. No complaining and happy to go along. I have so many fun memories but one stands out; Both John and I were visiting Johnston City, Illinois to spend time with Mom and Dad. It was the 4th of July. A big evening of fireworks were planned and Mom and Dad had a part in the program so John and I walked down in the evening and set our chairs up. Well, at dark the fireworks began, they would play patriotic music, read a patriotic poem, and then shoot off a firework. JUST ONE! About 10 minutes in John and I realized what was up and started laughing. We were sick with laughter for hours. It took about 2 hours to set off 20 fireworks and well, I can still see us losing it for days. Laughing and laughing. I was 26 years old, we bonded over that ridiculous firework show and I spent any possible time I could with Olga and John. 

Bless his heart - I'm going to imagine him meeting his Dad and Mom, my Dad and Mom inside the gates of heaven.. No tears only JOY at the arrival of a most honorable son and brother. Laughter abounds!

With Love,

Grace Bean
Littleton, Massachusetts

To Olga, Joe, Tommy & fam.
John will be miss very much. Our prayers are with all of you. I remember my visit with them in Virginia when I came from Puerto 
Rico and they took Evelyn and me around. Also in El Paso. I've always enjoyed the stories and his company. Wish there could of been more. But I know he will be watching us all until our time comes and we get to see all our pass families. From Cottageville, SC we will be with you all on these few hard days. With lots of love, Normita, Elba & family.

Dear Olga, Joe, & Tom:  We were so sorry to hear of John's passing.  May God comfort you in the loss of your husband and father.  We're thinking of you today.  Sincerely . . . and with love to all your family, 
Liz (Hicks) and Theo Fulk, 
Overland Park, KS

Dear Joe and Tommy,

I just learned from Helen's email of Uncle John's passing away and I am deeply sadden. I am sorry for your lost. In my life you Dad has been a true inspiration. Like he touched so many others, throughout my youth and as of recently, he has been My Sergeant York, My American Hero who has served his family and  country with honor. Although my memories include Uncle John in civilian clothes, my sharpest memories are of him in uniform with all his stripes while on a trip to Maryland with our Abuelo, My Dad and brother David. How impress and proud that made me to have such an Uncle.

Just recently, I was at Camp Dodge Iowa, where I am producing a training Video for the National Maintenance Training Center  which operates out of the Iowa's National Guard. Working with senior officers, I was so proud to inform them that my Uncle John Bean was from Iowa and also retired from the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant. I also informed them that when he retired, he went to teach ROTC in El Paso, Texas. Having visited military bases, including Camp Riley and meeting the day to day people that make this country safe, has made even more proud of being associated with your Dad. 

We don't get much time to keep in touch nor say the things we feel, but I too have some great memories of Uncle John that range from the 1950's to not to long ago when he visited with your Mom.  My Dad would often tell me stories of the early days in the Canal Zone and in Puerto Rico during the War. He was very proud of his Brother in Law. One of my most memorable times as a young adult was visiting Fort Bliss in Texas and going to the Museum at the base. Uncle John gave me a tour and an explanation of just about everything and those memories are for a lifetime. He actually shared with me that when he first joined the Army, horses we still being used in training and at the museum, they had replica of a military horse in those days and he explain everything to me and how it was back then.

I sincerely treasure him and Aunt Olga. They are two individuals that are a critical part of the fabric of the Gonzalez Family.

Sincerely,
Hernand V. Gonzalez, Jr.

Dear Joe, Tommy and the Bean Family:

I just learned of Uncle John's passing away and I am deeply sadden. I am sorry for your lost. In my life Uncle John has always been a true inspiration. Like he touched so many others, throughout my youth and always, he will be My Sergeant York, My American Hero who has served his family and  country with honor. Although my memories include Uncle John in civilian clothes, my sharpest memories are of him in uniform with all his stripes while on a trip to Maryland with our Abuelo, My Dad and brother David. How impress I became and how proud that made me to have such an Uncle. I have always told my childhood and adult friends that my uncle was a true military man and a an ROTC Instructor.

Just recently, I was at Camp Dodge Iowa, where I am producing a training Video for the National Maintenance Training Center  which operates out of the Iowa' s National Guard. Working with senior officers, I was so proud to inform them that my Uncle John Bean was from Iowa and also retired from the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant. I also informed them that when he retired, he went to teach ROTC in El Paso, Texas. Having visited military bases including Camp Riley and meeting the day to day people that make this country safe, has made even more proud of being related to Uncle John. 

We don't get much time to keep in touch nor say the things we feel, but I too have many great memories of Uncle John that range from the 1950's to not to long ago when he visited with Aunt Olga.  My Dad would often tell me great stories of the early days in the Canal Zone and in Puerto Rico during the War. He was very proud of his Brother in Law. One of my most memorable times as a young adult was visiting Fort Bliss in Texas and going to the Museum at the base. Uncle John gave me a tour and an explanation of just about everything and those memories are for a lifetime. He actually shared with me that when he first joined the Army, horses we still being used in training and at the museum, they had replica of a military horse in those days and he explain everything to me and how it was back then. He and Aunt Olga are individuals that came from humble beginning but with an iron backbone. I will never forget him.

I sincerely treasure him and Aunt Olga. They are two individuals that are a critical part of the fabric of the Gonzalez Family.

Sincerely,
Hernand V. Gonzalez, Jr.

I wish to extend to you and to members of your family my deepest sympathy on your loss.  May the Lord's loving promises comfort you and give you strength as you walk through this difficult time.  "Honoring Those Who Served-Ministry" -Chaplain Richard Reuer, 1206 6th St SW, Minog, ND  58701

OBITUARIO

John Alfred Bean

20 julio, 1917 – 17 marzo, 2012

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