John Nunes, a beloved figure in the Ferndale and Fortuna communities, passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2024, at 10:25 am, walking into a friend’s home with the usual smile on his face, preparing to cheer on his undefeated Minnesota Vikings. He was 67 years old. John was born on Aug. 29, 1957, to Tony and Velma Nunes and was the sixth of 10 children.
A proud Ferndale Wildcat, John excelled in football, track and basketball. After high school, he carried on his family’s legacy at the Beatrice Dairy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a dairyman. John’s passion for gardening, especially garlic, earned him the affectionate title of “Garlic Guru.” He also enjoyed horseracing and had a knack for picking winners. His wife’s Uncle Frank always said John’s racing tips made the betting machine better than an ATM.
His greatest love was the “littles” in his life. His daughter and stepson, his two cherished “grands,” 24 special nieces and nephews, their spouses and significant others, and his 11 little “greats” brought him immense joy.
John was a loving husband, father, Pop, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend to many. He is survived by his wife, Ginger, daughter Michelle, grandson Faris, stepson Brian (Nikki), and granddaughter Jessi. He is also survived by his siblings: Mike (Jeanine), Steve Ruth), Sheila (Steve); Blake (Johnna), Sherry (Paul); Andrew (Jennifer), Shelly (Lonnie) and brothers-in-law: Tony (Janice) and Richard.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Velma Nunes, brothers Anthony and David Nunes, mother and father-in-law, Tony and Gerry Leonardo, and sister-in-law Tina.
A celebration of Life for John was held Nov. 10 , at 10:25 a.m. at the Portuguese Hall in Ferndale, California.
This article appears in ‘Powerful’.