John Paulo Nunes was the fourth child born to Jose Rogerio and Maria Merces Nunes on October 30, 1978, in Willows, California. At a young age, John followed in his dad’s footsteps and worked on the dairy where his dad taught him the value of family and hard work. The loss of his father as a teenager was devastating to John; however, he took the work ethic that he learned from his father and applied it to his interests in mechanics where John would continue to excel and use his skills to help his family and friends.
As a young boy, he attended Westport and Gustine elementary schools before attending and graduating from Gustine High School in 1997. While attending Gustine High School, John’s talents as a mechanic came through in helping his friends fix their cars.
Upon high school graduation, he worked at Snyder’s Mechanical Restorations as an automotive mechanic for seven years and briefly at Depot Garage, before becoming employed with Hilmar Cheese Company. There John worked in the company’s mechanical maintenance department repairing and restoring machinery and equipment. John worked with Hilmar Cheese Company for ten years and recently joined the mechanical maintenance team with Joseph Gallo Farms.
In 2012, John married his longtime girlfriend Colleen McCarthy. They have two daughters, Miley and Macy. John’s love and pride for his daughters was evident to all who loved him and those who knew him could tell by his work bench at home- he kept it covered in his girls’ art work, dance pictures, school work, and notes. Even while working, John kept his girls close to him. Since the girls were born, John had his heart set on building a Jeep from scratch for his girls. He spent many years and countless hours rebuilding the Jeep and had it running perfectly. John had planned on painting it Miley’s favorite color pink and the interior done in Macy’s favorite color blue.
John could always be found working in his garage or downtown at the shop rebuilding engines and tuning up automobiles, tractors, and anything with a motor. Friends and family knew he was always a just a phone call away if they needed help. It didn’t matter to John how big or small the job was. He would stay until it was finished. His generous nature and joy in helping others made John the epitome of what it meant for someone to “give you the shirt off his back.” John will be always be remembered for his infectious laugh and willingness to lend a hand without question or hesitation.
John was a husband, father, son, brother, and loyal friend. He will be deeply missed by many.
John is survived by his wife Colleen Nunes and two daughters Miley and Macy Nunes of Gustine; mother Maria Merces Nunes of Hilmar; brother Manuel Nunes of San Jose; sister Rosa Nunes of Atwater; sister Elizabeth Avila and her husband John of Hilmar; brother Michael Nunes of Hilmar; sister Julie Pimentel and her husband West of Galt; sister Sarah Nunes and her partner Niki Morales of Hilmar; and twelve nieces and nephews.
John is preceded in to death by his father, Jose Rogerio Nunes and his younger brother, Steve Nunes.
A combined Rosary and Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, beginning at 10:00 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 8471 Cypress Street in Hilmar, California. A reception will be held directly following the Funeral Service in the Hall at Holy Rosary Church. Burial services will be private.
Remembrances may be directed to a college fund established for John’s daughters, Miley and Macy Nunes, c/o Colleen Nunes, at Tri Counties Bank, 319 Fifth Street, Gustine, California.
Funeral arrangements care of Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD504) in Turlock, California.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18