Celebration of Life - John Daniel Castaneda, Jr.

John John was just 23 years young when he tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident while driving to church. We are starting this GoFundMe to help his parents and dogs Luna and Lilly with funeral, memorial, and unplanned expenses.

John John was a very curious, adventurous, kind and strong young man who was taken from us way too soon.  At a young age, he found a love for cars and fixing things.  Always a quick learner, he enrolled in an auto mechanic program at Pearland High School and worked for a Ron Carter dealership during high school. He even bought an old, white Mustang that did not work and spent his free time buying parts to restore it to the beauty and life it once had.  He continued to work for the Ron Carter dealership after graduating high school in 2015 when shortly after, his father and friend taught him more about car restoration, something he loved doing in his spare time.      

About five years ago, with the help of family, he started a job at a Sunrise Services. Because of his dependability, strong work ethic, ability to learn fast, get the job done,  great communication and leadership skills he moved up quickly at Sunrise Services and was promoted to the position of Site Supervisor at INEOS Chemical Plant in Deer Park, Texas., where he was loved, respected and missed by so many.

With a desire to learn, grow and further his career, he was attending classes at College of the Mainland and in April 2019, two months after his birthday, John John bought a small home in Deer Park, to be close to work, to have a yard for his rescue dogs Luna & Lilly, to have a garage with tools and room to continue working on cars and to continue his love for fixing things.

He self-taught himself how to ride a motorcycle and recently purchased one.  He decided to ride his bike to church versus driving his car and at about 11:15 a.m. at the 7900 block of N. Loop East, Sunday, September 15, he collided with an SUV.  An off-duty Baytown officer stopped and stayed with John John until the ambulance came.  After no one answered the door at his new home, the police reached his father, broke the news and told him the hospital where they took John John.  He was wearing a helmet and had minor scratches above his eye, however, he did not survive the internal bleeding from the accident. 

Our family was so very proud of him, in his 23 years on earth, he lived the life many only dream of, surrounded by family who loved him unconditionally, given opportunities he deserved and with his heart of gold and movie star smile, he was a role model to his fellow cousins and friends.  He had an everlasting spirit and legacy that will live forever.

We are grateful that John John had his dogs, Luna and Lilly to care for, protect and love.  That was a glimpse of the man he was, a kindhearted person, who would give the shirt off his back to help you, a heart of gold and compassion that he shared with his family, animals and those around him. 

Funds are needed to help with funeral cost, burial lot, memorial plaque, expenses not covered by insurance and since he did not have a living will, additional funds are needed to cover, a probate attorney to help with his small estate and to transfer his home into his younger brother’s name Joseph, who is following his brother’s footsteps and attending San Jacinto College and also working at the same plant his brother worked at.  The goal is for Joseph to take over the payments and keep the home and memories in the family.  Lastly, funds are needed for the care of John John’s rescue dogs, Luna and Lilly, who will continue to live in their home.   Funds are needed as soon as possible, as his family does not have the funds to cover these unplanned for expenses.

There are no words that will ever comfort his beautiful family, if you are unable to give, we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers, because this is a life-changing event that no one planned for, that no one asked for, but one that we are slowing accepting and one that we will move forward with together.

In addition to praying for his mother, father, brothers, and sisters, we ask you to pray for his dogs, Luna and Lilly, there is no guidebook on how to tell pets that their Dad is in Heaven and will not be coming home.

Above photos are of John John, his dogs Luna & Lilly and a family reunion weekend in Yorktown, Texas.