Juan A. Rangel

Juan Ayala Rangel passed away on April 6, 2022 at the age of 77 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He battled chronic illnesses since the second Clinton Administration and now his watch had ended. He entered this world on November 4, 1944 to parents who were fundamentally unable to appreciate the singular gift and challenge they’d been given. His childhood was one of unimaginable poverty, abandonment, and struggle. He survived and spent his adult life giving his children and their children the skills they would need to survive no matter what Juan met the love of his life, Maria, when they were both growing up in Donna, Texas. They attended Donna High School and married shortly before he shipped out for his tour of duty in Vietnam. His marriage finally offered him a family that appreciated and loved and respected him as he should have been from the start. In Vietnam he met his brother Esequiel and they were close until his brother was called home to his rest several years ago. Together, Juan and Maria had four children: San Juanita, Julia, Emiliano Benito, and Joaquin Jose, and adopted another: Delisha. He was the proud grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Joshua, Jacob, Lina, Gabe, J Alex, Garrett, Ivan, Chris, Matt, Joseph, and Candece. His daughter Julia is married to Luis. His son Joaquin is married to Claire and they brought Jacob, Caleb, and Carson into his family. Emiliano and his wife Kristie brought him 2 great-grandchildren: Beau and Bella. He was a husband who loved his wife with all his heart and soul. He was a patriarch who would have fought his way through Hell and back for the children in his family. He was a warrior who stepped up to perform his duty for a country that took its sweet time honoring him. In another world or another time, he would have been recognized as a scholar: between raising and supporting his family he never got the chance to get a college degree, but he never stopped learning. Juan passed his love of learning to his family and pushed and encouraged all his children and grandchildren to become educated in their chosen fields, however diverse they might be, however little he might understand them. He loved fishing, watching football, and eating good food, preferably with family. Juan is survived and mourned by his wife and all their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Despite the pain we feel at his passing, we take comfort knowing that he is finally free of the pain that had wracked his body for years. There will be a Family & Friends viewing at Sawyer George Funeral Home on April 12th at 5pm, followed by a Rosary at 6:30pm. We will celebrate the Rite of Christian Burial on April 13th at 12:30pm, to be followed by burial at Coastal Ben State Veterans Cemetery at 2pm.