Macario Sahagun Juan

Macario Sahagun Juan was a pillar husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He suddenly departed this world on January 4, 2025, at the age of 77. Macario was the third son born to Librado F. Juan and Juana (née Sahagun) Juan on April 8, 1947, in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He went to Saint Joseph High School of Laoag and then to Divine Word College of Laoag, both in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. After graduating high school in 1969, he studied at Mapua Institute in Manila, Philippines. On November 1, 1973, through his eldest brother’s petition — George — Macario came to Los Angeles, California. In 1974, he enlisted in the Air Force. He reached the rank of sergeant in 1978 before transferring to Whitman Air Force Base near Knob Noster, Missouri. During this time, he met Leonora in Kansas City, Missouri, and they married on June 20, 1978. In 1980, he had his first son, Michael, before being honorably discharged from the Air Force. After the Air Force, in1982, he had his second son, Clifford.

He studied at Finlay Engineering College, obtaining his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1983. In 1990, he adopted five nephews and nieces while helping other family members. He spent most of his engineering career at Dearborn Midwest Conveyor in Kansas City, KS, before leaving the company in 2009. Macario was a loving husband, an incredible provider to his family, and influenced his children and grandchildren in science and engineering and, most of all, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) faith. Macario was a pioneering Iglesia Ni Cristo member of the Kansas City local, along with his wife and another family in 1983. For a time, he was a deacon and a Buklod President. Macario was a passionate gardener and landscaper. He helped maintain lawns in the West Bannister Neighborhood and lawns of his fellow Filipino countrymen in the Kansas City area. In his own yard, he transformed more than half into a beautiful garden growing various tropical fruits—bitter melon (ampalaya), calabash (upo), and yard long beans (sitaw), to name a few. He also had the best front yard landscape on the block! Macario was an avid bowler and a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. He also loved collecting and reading National Geographic magazines, stamps, and hats and watching anything related to nature. Macario had such unwavering kindness. He loved to make people laugh and tell others about his family and life experiences. He was very meticulous in all his work.

Macario is preceded in death by his parents – Librado F. Juan and Juana S. Juan, his eldest brother, George Juan, and his eldest sister, Emerita Varquez. He leaves behind his wife, Leonora Acosta Collado Juan; his two sons and their families – Michael, Lani Grace, Leia, Kaya, Emil, and Clifford, Allen, and Eleanor; his siblings and their families– George’s family, Emerita’s family, Erlina Santamaria, Simplicia Quinsay, Luis Juan, Hilary Lagunzad, and James Juan; and the rest of the adopted nephews and nieces and their families – Rommel Collado, Juvy Bray, Glen Juan, Louie Collado, Christian Juan, Helen Jagorin, Janet Craven, and Mary Jane Short.

Acknowledgement: The family of Macario sincerely acknowledges the comforting messages and expressions of kindness during this time of bereavement. - The Juan Family