Joseph “Joe” Pacheco passed away April 23, 2018 at the age of 90.
He was born in King City, CA and grew up in the Salinas Valley. Joe attended King City H.S. where he played in the band and participated in track. He and his high school sweetheart and future bride, JoJo (Josephine Pura), graduated in 1946. Together they raised their family in the towns of Greenfield and San Jose. Professionally, Joe tried his hand at farming before eventually finding his calling in sales. He opened the first “5&10 cents” store in Greenfield in 1959, which set the stage for many future sales-related endeavors. Joe was a people-person to his core–ask anyone–and possessed a true gift of gab. Even the deer in the woods surrounding Joe’s later dream home in Volcano, CA–a beautiful mountain retreat he and JoJo designed and built themselves–took him up on his loud calls offering feed or day-old veggies.
From Greenfield to San Jose, Amador County and back to the Bay, Joe lived a life fuller than most. He proudly served his country in the army, participated in Lions Club and Veteran groups, taught hunter safety, enjoyed fishing, barbecuing, and garage sales, took care of animals of all kinds–dogs, cats, and goats, to name a few–and loved music so much so that, when he wasn’t already singing or playing piano, he often requested his favorite songs on Sunday Hawaiian radio, which he successfully accessed LIVE via his laptop’s WiFi connection well into his late 80s.
Joe leaves behind his daughter Donna (Mike), sons David (Michelle) and Ronald (Carolyn), grandchildren Jason, Sean, Nicole, Aimee and Anna, great grandchildren Connor, Gavin, Ava and Quinn, brother Bill (Jeanne), sister Josephine Koester, and too many more nieces, nephews, cousins, and longtime friends to count. He is preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Caroline Pacheco, sisters Eva, Frances, Agnes, Isabel, and Gloria, brother Fred, daughter Susan (Smyth), son-in-law Larry, and Josephine, Joe’s wife of 68 years.
Special thanks to Seasons Hospice and all of his caregivers over the years for their wonderful care and compassion for Joe. Thank you to the volunteers and members of the American Legion Post 318.
A memorial potluck celebration arranged by the American Legion for Joe will be held May 27th between 1-5pm at the Legion Hall (1504 Minnesota Ave, San Jose, CA). Private interment.
Donations to Seasons Hospice, Honor Flight Bay Area California, or a charity of your choice may be made in Joe’s honor.
