You will call, and I will answer you. You will long for the work of your hands..." — Job 14: 15
Obituary
Juan Jose Urquizo was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, on November 5, 1943, to Guadalupe and Juan Manuel. He was the second of two sons in a large family of eleven children. As a young adult, he moved to the United States, following his older sisters who were living there. He worked hard, became a citizen, and finished his education. He acquired many skills and was always industrious and resourceful.
A few of his sisters had become Jehovah’s Witnesses and he would visit his sister, Rosa, in California in the summers while attending a religious school in Texas. At first, he would argue with his sisters but, in time, and after meeting different Witnesses, he realized there was something to it. On June 29, 1974, he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. His fifty years of dedication helped him through all of life's joys and sorrows. He served for a time as a ministerial servant and, later in life, as a regular pioneer until a few months before he passed away.
Juan worked in mannequin making, was a CNA, an EMT, and even a school bus driver. He worked for a time in electrical and mechanical engineering. In retirement he got certified as a security guard and finally a crossing guard. The maintenance worker at his senior apartment building would at times borrow his tools and even ask him for advice on electrical matters. His son, Mike, a general contractor, would sometimes ask Juan to join on his electrical jobs to help him troubleshoot. He was always willing to lend a hand. Some of his skills and talents included sewing, cooking, and car maintenance. Among Juan's many interests was keeping up with Bible and theocratic knowledge; he made sure he studied for his meetings.
After baptism, Juan met a pioneer sister named Rebecca. They got married, bought a house, and started a family in Highland Park, California where they raised their son, Michael, and daughter, Michelle. He raised both children to be faithful and to make meetings and “the service” a priority in their lives, even during challenging times. He also trained them in practical matters from a young age, helping both of them become responsible and hard-working adults. He taught them to buy things of quality so they would last. He introduced them to quality food, like Folliero’s Pizza and authentic menudo. Both Mike and Michelle are grateful to him for staying active in the truth during their childhood and adolescence, as it left a foundation for both of them to grow spiritually.
After Juan retired in 2012, and after recuperating from a serious illness, he decided to spend more time in the ministry. He became a regular presence out in service during the week. This led to him serving as a regular pioneer for over a decade. He was interviewed at a circuit assembly where he claimed he had to sign up because his adult children and their spouses “kept bugging him” to do it, so he did. Others have said Juan’s example encouraged them to start pioneering as well. He had the privilege of attending pioneer school twice. He faithfully served Jehovah for many years in the Highland Park Congregation and for a time in the Mount Washington Congregation.
After increasing his share in the ministry, and being single for a time, he decided he wanted a permanent service companion. He prayed fervently and often about it and was introduced to a humble pioneer sister, Ofelia. They were married in July 2016. They served happily together until she fell sick and passed away in March 2021 . It was a heavy loss for him which he endured as best he could. In 2023, he met and married a loyal, caring sister, Juana Leticia, who proved to be a great support to him as his health rapidly declined in 2024. Juan suffered loss in his life and looked forward to the resurrection, but losing his sister, Diana, in May 2024, was especially hard on him since they were very close. She had introduced him to Ofelia and, later, Leticia.
Juan passed away on August 24, 2024 at the age of 80, because of “special mightiness,” as Psalm 90:10 states. He is survived by his two sisters, Irma and Rosa; his children Mike and Michelle and their spouses, Michelle and Gabriel; his wife, Leticia, and many other extended family members.
He will be remembered for his reliability, consistency, and practical way of looking at things. He had an overall meek disposition, but he was also known for his outspokenness at times, though coming from a loving place. He was generally quiet, but loved to playfully tease and be teased. He was a simple and private man but humorous, generous, and loyal to those he was close to.
One of Juan’s favorite Bible passages was Psalm 23. It was read to him by his mother when he was a child. He would have agreed that throughout his 80 years of life and 50 years of service to Jehovah, he “never feared harm” because Jehovah “was with him,” his “cup was well-filled,” and he was very grateful to “dwell in the house of Jehovah for all his days.”
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