John Santiago, Jr was born in Waipahu, Hawaii on June 15, 1943. He passed away at his home in Burson on July 19, 2018 of Progress Super Nucler Palsy.
John lived in Makaha and attended Waipahu High School before moving to California. He was a graduate of North Highland High School, American River J.C. and Chabot College. He also served in the U.S. Army from March 1964 to 1966 and was an E-4 Specialist.
John was employed as an industrial maintenance mechanic for over 44 years, working for Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical in San Leandro and Latchford Glass. Plant closings brought him to the valley.
John was a mechanic on the bottling line at Sebastian Winery in Lodi and later became a facility maintenance mechanic at Sebastian Winery, which became Turner Road Vintners. He retired after 21 years.
John's love for cars started in his teens with his 1956 Chevy candy apple red convertible with glass pack pipes. He lived his dream of restoring and fixing old cars; he has had a 40 Ford sedan, a 32 model A Ford pickup and a 49 Pontiac.
He and his daughter Pua restored a 33 model B Ford pickup when she was in her teens. John was a member of the Early Ford Club.
John and MaryLouise Ebery-Santiago were childhood sweethearts and were married for 55 years. They have three children, Kapiolani "Lani" Bittrolff, Puanani "Pua" Santiago and John Santiago III, his wife Karen and two grandchildren whom he loved dearly Tyler Bittrolff and Kalina U'i Bittrolfff.
John leaves his siblings: Patricia Ratterman, Wilfred Santiago (Barbara) Lavern Youngblood,
Alberta McKenzie (Roy) and many nieces and nephews.
John Kalani Wahlani was his caregiver and friend for the last four years as the disease paralyzed him.
John is preceded in death by his parents John Sr. and Emma Santiago, brother Kenneth Santiago and sister Winona Santiago-Willms.
A Celebration of Life for John will be held on August 11, 2018 at 11 AM at Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial Hall at 300 Daphne St in Valley Springs, 95252.
San Andreas Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.
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