John Anthony (Juan Antonio) Velasco, 81, a Navy Veteran and a resident of Silver City, NM entered eternal rest Sunday, July 28, 2024 at his residence. He was born on October 22, 1942 to his parents, Jorge and Wilma (Wallin) Velasco. Juan was born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, and at 18 years of age, came to the United States to complete his education, where he earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of West Virginia and a Master's Degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, AZ. He served for four years as a LTJG in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. After working in New York City as a Wall Street banker, he moved to New Mexico where he was able to live in a way which was more compatible with his philosophy of life. After working at First National Bank in Santa Fe and in Economic Development for the State of New Mexico, he moved for a short time to Boston where he managed the New England Spice company. There, he found his love for fine food and cooking when he worked with celebrated chef, Todd English. He settled into the work that fed his artistic soul by opening his own jewelry making business, "Tipuani." For his "retirement," his great joy was owning and bringing back to health an heirloom organic apple orchard in the Mimbres Valley in SW New Mexico.

Juan never stopped working, and he never stopped giving. His solidarity with others knew no limits, his desire to help others was boundless. Along with his wife, he established a not-for-profit organization, "con Bolivia," which for ten years provided university scholarships and financial support for educational institutions and community-based projects in Bolivia. He listened intently to what was needed. He said frequently, "Not top down, but bottom up!" More recently, he worked with asylum seekers and immigrants in the Borderlands of southern New Mexico, and taught classes in small business development to aspiring business owners in Puerto Palomas, MX. He enjoyed working in his wood shop, creating beautiful sculptures from wood and stone that he found in the wild. Juan loved to cook and frequently shared nutritious meals with his friends. He was passionate about preserving the environment, recycling everything possible, including the scraps from the kitchen which provided sustenance to the worms in his compost.

Most of all, Juan had a huge heart, a ready laugh, and worked tirelessly to make this world a better place.

Juan was husband to Suzanne Dulle, Silver City, NM, and former wife, Lynne Velasco, Bozeman, MT; father to Adrian Velasco, Bozeman, MT; brother to Jorge (Coco) Velasco, La Paz, Bolivia, and Patricia Velasco, Santiago, Chile; stepfather to Joe Huebner, Silver City, Gretchen DiMaggio, Saratoga Springs, NY, Gwendolyn Possinger, Chicago, IL, Erica Ballard, Santa Fe, NM, and Mark Huebner, Española, NM; uncle to Sabina Velasco and Alejandra Bascon, Berlin, Germany, Rodrigo Bascon and Guillermina Antunez, Santiago, Chile. Numerous cousins and step-grandchildren loved him dearly, as he loved them.

"I confess that I have lived a full life."
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com .