John Richard Gonzales

John was born on August 3, 1948, in Miami, Arizona, to Adelfino and Manuela Gonzales. He was raised by his grandparents, Apolonio and Jesusita Rosales. He was the youngest in the family; his siblings were Lucy, Linda, Adelfino Jr., Paula, and Alfonso. He attended Miami High School and was always proud to be a Miami Vandal.

John joined the United States Army in 1967, serving two tours in Vietnam; he was also stationed in Germany and Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

John welcomed his first son, Johnny, from his first marriage; then married Jane, who had a daughter, Lisa, from her first marriage; they later had James, Kristy, and Anthony. He enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his family, including his grandchildren, sisters, brother, and many nieces and nephews.

He worked as a cook at various locations in Washington state and was hired by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1979 as a correctional officer at McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary, later becoming a cook supervisor. His work took him to locations throughout the United States, including Boron, California; Phoenix, Arizona; College Station, Texas; and Safford, Arizona. He retired in 2000 and moved to Surprise, Arizona, where he worked for Pinkerton Security and Securitas. The last place he worked was at Corte Bella, where he retired officially in 2011. He spent retirement relaxing, on cruises with his wife Jane, watching baseball and football, and spending time with his granddaughters. He enjoyed reading his Bible and the newspaper. He took pride in caring for his cars and keeping a well-manicured yard.

He loved baseball and was a huge fan of the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, as well as the Arizona Cardinals, depending on how their season was going. He loved watching military shows and movies. Two of his favorite movies were Tombstone and The Shawshank Redemption. He was a very good cook and loved barbecuing. He would bake brownies for his granddaughters so they would have a treat after picking them up from school. He loved attending First Baptist Church in Sun City West and enjoyed preparing the men's monthly breakfast.

John was a devoted husband and father. He loved spending time with family and friends and sharing memories, funny stories, and jokes. He was honest and expected the same from others. He was protective of his family, always saying he was proud that nothing bad ever happened to them. Throughout his life, he was generous with his time and his home, always willing to help family members in need. John will be remembered for his love, compassion, hard work ethic, wisdom, and his sense of humor.

He leaves behind his wife, Jane; children Johnny (Lori), Lisa, James (Karen), Kristy (Adam), and Anthony (Heather); grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by both of his parents, brother Adelfino Gonzales Jr., and sister Lucy Morales.

We would like to thank the First Baptist Church of Sun City West for their ongoing support, the Veterans Administration, Hospice of the Valley, and Blessings for Seniors Caregivers.

Visitation will be held at Surprise Funeral Care, 16063 W. Bell Rd, Surprise, AZ 85374, US, on July 31, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 2929 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024, US, on July 31, 2026, from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm.