Juan Medina

Juan (John) Medina, 88, of Galesburg, Illinois, died peacefully Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 12:04 p.m. at Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville, Illinois.

John was born November 21, 1936, in Galesburg, Illinois, the son of Cenobio and Petra Medina. Juan graduated from Galesburg High School in 1954 and thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1954 until 1958. Upon returning home, he went to work at Butler Manufacturing, and was employed there until 1961, when he took a job with the U.S. Postal Service. Juan was a letter carrier in the City of Galesburg from 1961 until his retirement in 1998. After retirement he decided to go back to work delivering meals to the homebound for the VNA from 1998 until his second retirement in 2019. Juan married Susan Nyman in 1973, and they divorced in 1984. He later married Marsha Flesner on September 9, 1988, and she survives. Juan is also survived by his four daughters, Andrea Medina, Elizabeth Medina, Susan (Terry) Woolsey, all of Galesburg, and Ann (Bill) Pace of Tamms, Illinois; four grandchildren, Colton (Erika) Woolsey, Madison Woolsey, Morgan (Connor) Laird and Bryanna (Corban) Barringer; four great-grandchildren; his sister, Mary Guttierez, in Phoenix, AZ; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased in death by his parents; five brothers, Philip, Mario, Peter, Paul and Raymond; three sisters, Nellie, Josephine and Tillie; and, two nephews, Philip Medina and Greg Medina.

While employed at the U.S. Post Office, Juan received the Superior Accomplishment Award in 1988 and was a member of the Million Mile Club for having no accidents during his long career. Juan was a member of the NALC for over 65 years and was presented with the James E. Worsham Award in 2019 by the Illinois State Letter Carriers Association. Juan was named the Grand Marshall of the Galesburg Labor Day parade in 1998 in recognition of his longstanding commitment to local unions. One of Juan’s greatest honors was to have participated in two Honor Flights to Washington, D.C.

In his younger days, he coached YMCA boys basketball teams and managed to take one team to an undefeated Championship in 1968 with a 14-0 record. In his later years, he was an assistant softball coach for the GHS girls’ JV softball team for several years, where he affectionately became known as “Grandpa”. Juan was an avid lover of all sports, but especially the GHS boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, GHS football, GHS softball and GHS swimming. While he had a love of all sports, there was none so much as his passion for golf. He even managed to get an illustrious hole-in-one. It could probably be said that Juan’s happy place was always on the golf course.

For all of his life’s accomplishments, he was an extremely proud father and even prouder grandfather. He would probably say that some of his best moments came in supporting and cheering on his grandchildren at their many plays, performances, concerts and sporting events. If Colton or Maddie were participating, it was likely that Grandpa could be found in the audience. Grandpa was always there to offer advice, encouragement and the occasional reprimand when necessary.

Lastly, Juan was a man of deep faith, having been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church his entire adult life.

Visitation for Juan will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2025 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Galesburg. Pastor Carrie Carnes will officiate. Military honors will be conducted following the funeral by the Knox County Honor Guard. Family burial will be Monday at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to the OAKS Senior Center. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.