Juan "Johnnie" Salgado

Juan "Johnnie" Salgado, 74, passed away at Kearney Regional Medical Center on May 28, 2024, in Kearney, Nebraska. 

He was born on April 25, 1950, to Juan and Adelina (Martinez) Salgado in Laramie, Wyoming. Johnnie grew up in Mora, New Mexico, until the family moved to Greeley, Colorado, in 1967.

Johnnie held various careers throughout his life. He drove trucks for Davis Bros Trading Post and Balcom Chemicals. He provided custodial services for Porter and the City of Greeley. After a few years in custodial work, he transitioned into security for Hatton in Greeley, CO. In 1995, Johnnie moved to Espanola, New Mexico, where he continued as a security officer for Guard It Security. In 1997, he began working for the City of Espanola, first in the Parks Division and later in the Sanitation Department. He maintained his position with the city for eight years until a shoulder injury from a tractor rollover forced him into early retirement.

In 2007, Johnnie moved back to Greeley, CO, and in 2008, he traveled to Nebraska to spend time with his children and grandchildren, eventually settling in Lexington, NE. Retirement wasn’t for him, so in 2014, he began working as a Customer Service Representative for Express Laundry, where he remained for the next ten years until his untimely death.

Johnnie spent his free time listening to his police scanner and investigating the action. He was an extremely kind, friendly, and social man, always willing to give his last penny, offer rides, or even the shirt off his back to anyone in need. His humorous wit, jokes, and kind-heartedness made him a well-known person in every community he lived in, making new friends everywhere he went. He was always willing to help, whether it was fixing cars, helping someone move, or cutting their lawns for free. His ultimate loves were cruising and his animals. He hated feeling caged in, so he was always out and about, cruising the country or around town with his dogs, or catching a beer or two with friends and family.

Johnnie is survived by his aunts, Viola Martinez of Greeley, CO; Paula (Salgado) Esparza of Lexington, NE; his children, Juan (Rebecca) Salgado of Greeley, CO, Lucia (Steven) Salgado of Lexington, NE, Esther Salgado of Lexington, NE, Julio Salgado Sr. of Kearney, NE, and Bonnie (Randy) Salgado of Espanola, NM; 19 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; as well as  many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Juan Salgado (1971); mother, Adelina (Martinez) Salgado (2002); sister, Jane (Jenny) Martinez Duran (2008); brothers, Leroy Jose Salgado (2012) and Samuel (Sammy) Salgado (2021); the love of his life, JoAnn (Georgia) Cruz (2000); son, Peter (PJ) Joseph Antuna (2020); and an infant granddaughter in 1998. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with family receiving guests from 5 to 7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington, Nebraska. The service will be live-streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the family. A crowdfunding account has been created and a link is provided below to assist the family with funeral costs.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com