John J. Valdez

John J. Valdez passed away at Veterans Administration Hospital on July 24, 2018. Services will be held on Monday, July 30th at Sacred Heart Church in West Des Moines. A celebration of life visitation will be held at 10 a.m. with a funeral mass following at 11 a.m.

John was born in West Des Moines, December 29, 1930 to Manuel Valdez Sr. and Guadalupe (Sapien) Valdez. He was one of 13 siblings and was raised in the Valley Junction area. John attended Valley High school where he excelled in football, and received many accolades for his performance. He served in the United States Marines. He was also an Iowa Golden Gloves Welterweight boxing champion in 1947 and 1948. He went on to pursue a career in professional boxing and semi-professional football as a member of the Des Moines Warriors. His love for boxing and mentoring helped to coach a Golden Gloves team from West Des Moines. He also trained professional boxers and later volunteered as a coach at the Des Moines Police Boxing club. John was general contractor and owned Valdez Painting General Contracting.

He was an avid fisherman and golfer. You could always find him fishing with family and friends and he loved to golf with friends and son, Tommy. John loved everybody and always enjoyed getting together with friends and family at Giff’s 5th Street pub and the now popular G Migs 5th Street Pub. He also owned a popular bar on 5th Street in West Des Moines, Villa Valdez.

John was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and loved to get together at the pub for televised football games. John took great pride in his children, grandchildren and a great great-grandchild.

Sadly, cancer came knocking on his door in 2016. His strong will to live helped him to put up the fight of his life. His loving wife Delores was there every step of the way acting not only as a wife,but as a nurse, cheerleader and friend. She was assisted by a wonderful, caring group of hospice nurses, and counselors from Suncrest Hospice. Sadly, he was no longer able to live at home after a fall that caused a life changing hip fracture. He kept his hopes and spirits up under the watchful eyes and care of the “angels” at the CLC Unit at Veterans Hospital. He had many visitors that helped fill the long, lonely days and night.

He was preceded in death by his father Manuel Sr. , mother Guadalupe, siblings Jesse (infant) Freddy (infant), Eula, Emily, Esperanza, Aurora, Joseph, and Louise . He is survived by his wife Delores, children, Vincent (Gail), Tom Leydens (Kelly), Diane Brooker (Denny), Denise Durflinger (Tom), Mike Buss, and his siblings Manuel Jr., Darrell, Jesse and Frances Gallardo. He is also survived by grandchildren Nicholas Valdez, Abigail Valdez Brammer (Joe), Jeremy Williams (Angie), Franklin Sanchez( deceased), Jason Leydens, Anthony Leydens (Michelle), Dan and Scott Rocha, John Hawxsby, great grandchildren Emma Williams, Maya Williams, Alysa Williams, Dylan Batterson, Bella Leydens, Savanah and Sahara Rocha, Max and Charlotte Rocha.

In lieu of flowers , memorial contributions may be given to his family.