Juan Ruiz

Juan Ruiz Jr, 29 of Newman Grove, NE died as the result of an automobile accident south of Tilden, NE early Thursday morning, September 28, 2023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 5, 2023 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lindsay, NE with Fr. Stan Schmit officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Newman Grove, NE. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the church, with a 7:00 p.m. wake service.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove is in charge of arrangements.

Juan Ruiz, Jr, son of Juan Federico Ruiz and Imelda (Cruz) Ruiz, was born November 16, 1993 at Las Vegas, NV. He attended school in St. George, UT before moving to Norfolk, NE where he attended Norfolk High School. He entered the working world at a young age holding jobs with Aschoff Construction, Maschhoff Farms and Big O Tires.

It was while living in Norfolk that Juan met the love of his life, Jennifer Reyna, and they have been inseparable ever since. The couple were blessed with a daughter Alicia Elena and later moved to Grand Island where Juan worked for Miller Tires, Kermit's Car Wash and Paul Davis Restoration. In 2019, they moved to Newman Grove, NE where Juan started working for Bud's Sanitation as a garbage man. It was here that he found the job he truly enjoyed. He enjoyed his co-workers, collecting the treasures he found on the route, but most of all he enjoyed the customers he served, getting to know them and doing the best job he could do for them. He took pride in what he did, always making sure to return the bins just right, and often going above and beyond for the kind elderly customers on his routes. The thoughtful gestures and gifts of cookies for him or toys for his kids that customers would leave for him, especially around Christmas, were greatly appreciated.

Juan and Jennifer were blessed with three more children: Aydin Ezra, Aliyas Ethan and Anthony Esaiah. Juan was proud of his children, loved spending time with them, making music for his fiancé and going fishing with his friends. He was full of life and enjoyed being the loud one in the room, always with a smile on his face.

Juan is survived by his fiancé Jennifer Reyna and four children: Alicia Elena, Aydin Ezra, Aliyas Ethan, and Anthony Esaiah, all of Newman Grove; his mother: Imelda Ruiz of Grand Island, NE; two sisters: Jacqueline Ruiz and Josylin Ruiz, both of Grand Island, NE; two brothers: Bryan Ruiz of Grand Island, NE; Daniel Ruiz of Arizona; nieces: Arelyn and Amaiah Muniz, Ayliin Ruiz, all of Grand Island, NE; Natalie and Zaylie Ruiz of Arizona; special family friends Ben Widhalm, Andy and Zach Potmesil; In-laws Jorge and Martha Arreguin of Newman Grove, NE; sisters-in-law: Vanessa Arreguin of Lincoln, NE; Esmeralda Arreguin of Arizona; brother-in-law: Robert Reyna of Madison, NE; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by grandmother Yolanda Ruiz; brother-in-law Rocco Muniz.