Juan Luis Galaviz passed away at home in Fresno, California on Wednesday February 16, 2022 surrounded by his family. He passed as a proud father to six children: Esperanza Ester, Amada Minerva, Stephen Paul, Rachel Marie, Roseanne Adela, and Timothy David; father-in-law to Isela; grandpa to 8 grandchildren: Savannah, Christopher, McKayla, Moses, Natalia, Mila, Julian, and Dominic.

He is survived by his sister Irma Alicia Galaviz and brother Jose Javier Galaviz. He is preceded in death by his father Genovevo Galaviz Lira, mother Maria Minerva Orta de Galaviz, and brothers Jaime Humberto Galaviz, Genovevo Galaviz Jr., and Juan Ernesto Galaviz.

Born in Nueva Rosita Coahuila, Mexico, our father immigrated with his family to the US as a young boy and grew up here in the Central Valley. He graduated from Sanger High school, was devoted to academia, and ran in track and field. He began his college career at Fresno City College and then went on to study at Cal Poly. He met our mother, Rosemary Galaviz, in the 70's at Fresno City College, sharing their first date at an Earth Wind and Fire concert. While studying at Cal Poly, he felt a calling to come home to Fresno and it was then that he married our mother and started our family. Although they didn't stay together, he remained holding her as the most beautiful woman in the world and supported her as a mother and the love of his life.

He spent the early part of his career working with his brother Jaime and latter majority of his career in architecture and design on roof trusses, creating a small business called Ace Truss doing most of his work in the Bay Area of California. As a man of faith, he spent countless hours in the word of God and raised all of us with the same love and devotion. Traveling to us in Fresno was a big part of his life. Through the distance he loved and supported us, arriving early for every holiday, for every single birthday, school performance or award ceremony, every promotion and graduation, every wedding, and every family pizza Friday. He'd drive the distance to take us to the movies, have a cup of coffee with us, share a meal, to fill the gas tanks in our cars, or put his hand on our heads for a prayer and blessing. His legacy is a love expressed in the distances he crossed to demonstrate the love of a father—a love so strong that nothing, in this life or in the next, could ever separate him from us (Romans 8:39).

The final days of his life were spent at home in Fresno, listening to music, hearing his grandchildren run through the hallways and their laughter while they jumped on the trampoline just outside his window. He heard our Mom hang her keys and purse on the hook when she'd arrive and then felt her give him a kiss on the forehead. He smelled the meals Stephen and his wife Isela prepared together in the kitchen. He was comforted to hear his sister Irma and Spanish once again from his brother Javier. He heard Hope and Tim share stories and Amada's singing and infectious laughter. He felt Roseanne at his bedside measuring his hand on hers and smelled a fresh spring rose Rachel placed on his chest.

Please join us for a reception at 715 E Escalon after the service.