Javier Cruz Navarro, 65, of Shumway passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at University of Illinois Chicago Hospital.

Private family services will be held at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with burial at St. Anthony's Cemetery.

Javier was born July 9, 1954 in the city of Leon, in Guanajuato, Mexico, to Eduardo and Amalia (Cruz) Navarro. Javier joined the Army National Guard in 1978. He retired after twenty years of serving and spoke proudly of his time in the military. He traveled to Effingham, Illinois in 1981 and worked at Bob Stofer's muffler shop and The Bobber Truck Plaza where he met his soon-to-be wife, Ellen Kay Kenter, in 1981. They married June 19 th , 1982 and bought a home in Shumway. After Javier retired from the National Guard, he obtained his bachelor's degree of Kinesiology at UIC and began working at the University of Illinois Chicago.

He thoroughly enjoyed his newest role as grandpa with seven new grandchildren in the span of five years. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye and you could find him hunkered around the kid's table at family gatherings. He considered it his greatest responsibility to make sure the youngest were still able to join in the fun; holding newborn babies up to see the games that the older kids were playing; and propping them up on ride-along toys, whether their feet touched the ground or not. He never took a day with them for granted and made the most of every minute.

He will be missed by his loving wife of 37 years, Ellen Kay Navarro, and their five children; Dawnya (Andrew) Ton of Texas, Javier (Jill) Navarro of Shelbyville, Antonio (Cassie) Navarro of Indiana, Alexander (Anna) Navarro of Normal, and Enrique Navarro of Effingham; as well as his grandchildren, Damon, Dante, Elayna, Riley, Logan, Jace, and Eliana.  He is also survived by his father (Eduardo); brothers (Jesse and Eddie) and sisters (Dolores, Olivia, Vickie, and Violet). He is preceded in death by his mother, Amalia.