John Charles Breitkreitz

John Charles Breitkreitz, also known as "Pappy", 67, of Casa Grande, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly on March 31, 2018, at his home in Casa Grande. John was born February 10, 1951, in Clinton, Massachusetts to Charles and Evelyn Breitkreitz, of Sterling Junction, Massachusetts. On Friday, December 13, 1968, John met "the one for him", Dorothy Colombo, while changing a flat tire for her and friends. They were high school sweethearts, and were married on August 14, 1971, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Massachusetts. John was a 1969 graduate of Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts. He went on to attend Quinsigamond Community College before enlisting in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1970. During his years of service, John served as a Tank Commander. He also served on the Honor Guard for
President Ford’s visit to Concord, Massachusetts, and was an esteemed sharpshooter on the National Rifle Team. John was a school crossing guard, delivered milk to elementary schools, and installed swimming pools, all while working as a lithographic stripper at Colonial Press. In December of 1979, John and Dorothy relocated their family
from West Boylston, Massachusetts, to Casa Grande, Arizona, where he worked as a master carpenter for RM Antonio Construction. In 1981, he joined the team at Gallo & Sgrignoli Construction, which later changed names to Gallo Construction, Inc., as a foreman. In 2000, John was promoted to Vice President/General Superintendent managing all
field operations, company craft employees, and subcontractors. Upon the owners’ (Robert and Miriam Gallo) retirement in 2002, John and Jeff VanHise purchased all ownership, and John served as President of Gallo Construction, Inc., until his passing. Being very interested in the future development of local construction craftsman, John spent several years on the Casa Grande Union High School District Vocational Programs Board of Directors, and encouraging community youth to become involved with construction trades and general industry. John was skilled in supervising large crews including the coordination and oversight of subcontractor personnel. John worked closely with the City and County officials to ensure that all Building Code requirements were honored.
John was an avid hunter, archer, outdoorsman, and served for many years as a Hunter Education Instructor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. John was a member of Team Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park where he loved drag racing the 1968 Dodge Dart that he restored, which won Best Engineered Car at the 2011 NHRA Pacific Division Summit ET Finals. John’s love of racing began in the early 1980s while competing in the Class 5 Baja Series of the Arizona Desert Racing Association, with his teammates and best friends, John Ronnerud and Stan Ingram. He later went on to drive the Tune & Lube Stock Car at Central Arizona Raceway. John was an obsessive car enthusiast. John achieved his most prized accomplishment of 6,272 days of continuous sobriety at the time of his passing. John was proudest of his four grandchildren, and was an avid supporter of their involvement in the Casa Grande Little League, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Casa Grande Valley Youth Soccer League, as well as the Jr. Dragster Programs at Wild Horse Pass and Tucson Dragway, where he was "Pappy" to many.
John is survived by his loving and supportive wife, Dorothy; his children, Amy Breitkreitz of Casa Grande, Michael Breitkreitz of Placentia, California, and Corrie, and husband, Matthew Lemberg of Casa Grande. He is also survived by his grandsons, Tripp Breitkreitz, Gavin, Noah and Colin Lemberg; his mother, Evelyn of Casa Grande; his siblings, Linda and Richard Antonio of Maricopa, and David and Cynthia Breitkreitz of Tucson; and many nieces and nephews.John was preceded in death by his father, Charles.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 6, 2018, from 6:00-8:00pm at Mountain View Chapel located at 15506 Skyway Avenue in Casa Grande. The Celebration of Life will be officiated by Racers for Christ Chaplain Richard Trimmer held Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 3:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church Family Life Center located at 702 East Cottonwood
Lane in Casa Grande. Pallbearers will be Richard Antonio, Jr., Michael Breitkreitz, Tripp Breitkreitz, Nathan Burger, JohnHenry Lane and Matthew Lemberg. Pappy would have wanted everyone to come as they are. The family invites you to wear your race suit, team shirt, or whatever you are comfortable in.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Racers for Christ (1250 East Baseline Road, Tempe, AZ, 85283 - please include SW Region in memory of John Breitkreitz on the memo line), or The Wounded Warrior Project.
John’s care has been entrusted to J. Warren Funeral Services.