Joseph Anthony Gonzales

Joseph, his family and friends called him Joe, was a loving husband and father. He passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the age of 75, after several years of declining health issues.
Joe was born on Dec. 26, 1947 to Jose Anthony Gonzales and Ruth nee Barlow Gonzales in Alta Dena, CA. He grew up in Pasadena where he graduated from Pasadena High School.
He proudly wore the uniform of a United States Army Sergeant with the 6" Battalion of the 9" Infantry Division. He fought courageously in the war zone deep in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam in 1968. After completing his service, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend Sacramento River College. There he earned an Associates of Arts degree, which led him to Riverside, CA to work for the Press Enterprise newspapers. Eventually Joe switched career paths and started his own business in property management. He retired in 2018.
In his youth, he was involved in many different sports, which carried into his adult life. He was an impressive water and snow skier, and an average tennis and softball player. He really enjoyed the years he helped coach his son's little league teams.
He also loved loading up the travel trailer and heading out on Hwy. 395 to Twin Lakes in the High Sierras. There he could fish all day and relax by a crackling fire in the evenings, listening to the rushing water of Robinson Creek, high above Bridgeport, CA.
Everyone who knew Joe, knew he could tell a good joke over and over again to the delight of many, and also to the chagrin of his wife of 35 years. But of course, she would politely laugh each time! We will all miss the stories he loved to share.
His wife, Andrea, his son, Joey, along with sisters, Lorraine and Anita and his brother, Jon, survives Joe.
There will be a private memorial service at Riverside National Cemetery on Friday, January 19* at 10:00 a.m.
Our family is thankful for God's mercy in taking Joe home to be at peace!