John "Juan" Valencia

John (Juan) Michael Valencia, 66, son of the late Manuel and Margaret Valencia of El Rancho, New Mexico, passed away February 26, 2016 following a lengthy illness. He is preceded in death by his younger sister Charlotte Lindahl.
John is survived by his son, Michael Valencia and children, Kaylene and Santiago; daughter Sasha Valencia and daughter Kirstyn. He leaves behind siblings, Mary Jo Valencia, Anna Dorame (Anthony), Socorro Oropollo, and Patrick Valencia; as well as nieces and nephews including  Gretchen Valencia, Tony Dorame Jr. , Leslie Costa Guerra, Pat Oropollo, and Nicole Zilvetti; as well as many friends.
John graduated from St. Catherine Indian School and attended Highlands University, where he received a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

He was a proud Veteran, who served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.
He worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and retired from the Bureau of Land Management.  He was known for his love of the great outdoors, and enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was very passionate about playing his guitar.  John will be missed by his family and by those whose lives he touched.

Serving as pallbearers will be Harold Daniel Romero, Christopher D. Sandoval, Bryon B. Baca, Marshall Martinez, and Esteven P. Laranaga. Honorary Pallbearers will be Archie Atencio, Eloy and M. Herrera.

A rosary will be recited on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at St Anne's Catholic Church, 511 Alicia Street, Santa Fe, NM,  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Rosario Chapel, 499 North Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM  at 1:00 p.m., with a burial will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 pm.  The family of John Michael Valencia has entrusted the care of the beloved one to Daniels Family Funeral Services.