Juan J. Provencio

Lt. Col. (USAF Ret) Juan J. Provencio, 93, a member of The Greatest Generation of veterans, passed away at his home on January 24, 2014, surrounded by his wife and family. Juan was born in El Paso, Texas on May 28, 1920, to Manuel and Paulina Rey Provencio. He grew up in Sunset Heights where he shared many adventures with his five brothers, four sisters, and friends he would have for life. He attended St. Patrick Catholic School and graduated from Cathedral High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and was a yell leader for the Irish. He attended the College of Mines (UT El Paso) but left when he was accepted to the air cadet program with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.

Juan was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot’s wings on May 24, 1943. He was assigned training as a B-17 co-pilot and sent to join the 8th Air Force in England. He flew 21 missions as a co-pilot and 4 as a pilot, including strategic forays over Norway, and Schweinfurt and Berlin, Germany. He was awarded four Air Medals during his tour and decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Curtis LeMay. He worked as the pilot aide de camp to both General LeMay and General Earl E. Partridge before returning to the States. Juan was recalled to active duty as a captain in 1952, attended Command and Staff College, held several posts in Alaska, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska before serving as an Air Commando Squadron Commander in Panama. In 1968 he served as an ALCE Commander in Pleiku, Vietnam. He retired from the USAF in 1972. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and three Commendation medals.

After completing his BBA at the University of Texas El Paso, Juan served as a director of Goals for El Paso, a non-profit organization engaged in long term strategic planning for the El Paso community. He also worked as a sales representative for Rudolph Miles and Sons. Throughout his life he was an avid golfer, swimmer, and diver. He loved playing golf at the Campestre in Juarez and other local courses and even bought a second home in Ruidoso, New Mexico so he could play regularly at Cree Meadows, until his health made the high altitudes difficult. He passed on his love for sports to all his children and his skills in golf and basketball to his son Phil. He proudly supported the UTEP Miners for decades.

A man of strong faith, Juan was a long time parishioner at St. Patrick Cathedral, a member of the ACTS community, the Serra Club, and very dedicated to Los Que Van Quedando, an alumni group supporting Cathedral High School. When he slowed down at 91 years of age he “attended” daily mass and prayed the rosary thanks to EWTN, with his wife of sixty eight years at his side. He was an active volunteer at the War Eagles Air Museum and a member of the Daedalians, a group of retired pilots with whom he shared many stories over the years. As a member of Los Granaderos de Galvez, a group focused on the contributions of Spanish in the Southwest, he enjoyed an audience with King Juan Carlos of Spain while visiting that country.

Juan was preceded in death by his daughter Maria Luisa and sons Edward, and Philip. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 68 years, Maria Luisa (Samaniego) Provencio, whom he married in June 1945. He loved recounting stories of how they met and fell in love. Maria Luisa Lou was his strength throughout their long marriage and lovingly devoted to him until his last day. Also left to carry on are daughters Marti, Teeni, and Teresa Provencio Messerli (Brent), sons Jim (Royal Walker) and Rick. Grandchildren include Kelli of San Antonio, Kari (Brandon) Hansen of Cypress, Texas and grandson Eddie. Juan also leaves behind three great grandsons, Colin, River, and Everett Hansen. He was a positive father figure to Rachel Olguin and a life time friend to Judge Robert Galvan, Rudy Miles Sr., and Bob Schreiner. He leaves behind his brother Joe and sister Mary Grace. He has many nieces and nephews of both the Provencio and Samaniego families who considered Juan the respected patriarch. The “tough old bird” will be missed by many.

The family would like to thank Juan’s physical therapists Sandra Terrazas, Christine Gutierrez, and Diana Ramirez of Spectrum Therapy for their tender yet firm care, as well as staff from Global Hospice, particularly Deacon Jim and Gabriel, his nurse.

Visitation for Juan will be on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at Martin Funeral Home on Resler from 6pm to 9 pm, with a vigil service commencing at 7pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Cathedral on Monday, February 3, 2014 at 11:30am. A Service at Fort Bliss will follow the mass. Pallbearers will be sons Jim and Rick, nephew Eddie, Brent Messerli, Brandon Hansen, and Royal Walker. Honorary pallbearers are Robert Grijalva, Joey Provencio, Louie Provencio, Mauricio Cordero, Jose Cordero, Juan Ontiveros, David Samaniego. Uriel Samaniego, and Beto Banuelos. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Juan’s name to the St. Patrick Building Fund, the scholarship fund for Los Que Van Quedando at Cathedra High, or to the Sacred Heart Parish Building Fund.

Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 North Resler Drive, El Paso, Texas 79912. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com