Juan Maravilla Perez

Remembering our Dad, John Maravilla Perez, on Father’s Day. He passed away from septic shock at Rush University Medical Center on December 10, 2022, at age 93. He was a very loving and present patriarch of his family, always around for the significant and insignificant moments of our lives. He provided for us and protected us and loved us. He gave us a sense of security and made a positive and long-lasting impact on our family. We couldn’t have chosen a better father, grandfather and great grandfather. He left a great legacy.

The following is taken from a short autobiography that Dad wrote and we found after his passing (condensed):

“As I sit here and reflect on my life, I decided to write some of it down. I, Juan Maravilla Perez, also known as John, was born on April 14, 1929, in East Chicago, Indiana, to Crispin Perez and Clotilde Maravilla (both deceased). I was one of 14 children, but some siblings passed before I was born. Those I remember are: Luis, Manuel, Elena, Jesus, Lupe, Carmen, Crispin, Tony (all deceased) and Frances and Margie, of Indiana, and George (Raphael) of Texas.

My mother was a Housewife and my father a Carpenter. As an infant, during the stock market crash, my mother took me and my siblings away to Mexico to the safety of her family who had a large ranch and some properties. As a young boy and after school, I worked on the family farm. My father also worked in public service. In about 1946, my father and I and my oldest brother, Luis, went back to the United States where some of my mother’s brothers lived. We went to My Uncle Abel’s home in Idaho, and worked on the Hoover Dam. In 1948, my Uncle Ignacio, who lived in East Chicago, Indiana, wrote to us to come there and work for Inland Steel. After 2 years working there, my uncle Candido invited me to live with him in Chicago, Illinois, (South Deering) and work for Wisconsin Steel. Candido’s son, my cousin Tony, was married to Isabel (Alvarado) whose family lived next door and I met and fell in love with her beautiful and loving sister Consuelo (Alvarado).

We married in 1949 and had 4 children, Susan (Anthony) McBay, a son (deceased at birth), Kristine (deceased) (Dennis) Griswold and Lorraine (Patrick) Fair. In 1963, we moved to Calumet City, then Burnham, Illinois; Cedar Lake, Indiana, and then to Merrillville, Indiana. My grandchildren are Amy (Eric) Stiles, Brenda Griswold, and Kyle (Taylor) Fair and a great granddaughter, Taylor Rose Stiles. I love them and I am very proud of all of them.

After 30 years, I retired as a Supervisor from Wisconsin Steel then worked as a security guard. I also worked for my nephew David Maravilla in his microfilm business, then for my son in law, Tony McBay, in his construction business and then as a painter. In 2004, after 55 very happy years, I lost my wife and was very sad and lonely. I met Mary Spoor at a senior citizen’s luncheon. She saw I was sad and we talked and I learned that she had lost her husband and was feeling very sad, too. We found out that we both liked country music and dancing and we went to different concerts and dances and met many nice people. Through the “Keenager’s Club” we travelled to many places, including places I had enjoyed with my wife like Washington, DC; Las Vegas; South Dakota; Branson, Mo; Arkansas; Nashville; Dollywood; North Carolina; Michigan; Texas; Florida; Canada and Mexico. We went on cruises to Mexico and the Bahamas and lots of casino trips. We love and respect each other and get along great and will take care of each other until the day we pass.”

John leaves behind many dear nieces, nephews and friends. Burial was private. Thank you to all our wonderful family and friends for the beautiful cards and words of sympathy.