Joseph Achilles Cresto Jr.

1931 - 2020

Joseph Achilles Cresto Jr.

November 28, 1931 to December 8, 2020

Joe Cresto was born on November 28, 1931 and died of natural causes on December 8, 2020. The younger of two children, and born to Italian immigrants, Joe was raised in Cañon City, Colorado and spent much of his childhood working on the family ranch and coal mines. In 1949 he met his "Sweet Lorraine," Norma Lorraine Litch, at Colorado State College in Greeley. They were married in 1953, a marriage that lasted over 60 years until her death in 2013. Following their wedding, Joe was drafted into the army during the Korean War and they moved to Fort Ord, California where he was stationed for 2 years serving as the Information and Education NCO and eventually as Master Sergeant at the Regimental Headquarters.

The Depression era had a significant impact on the development of Joe's work ethic, as it did for so many of his generation. By the time he was 29 years old, he had completed his military service, earned a master's degree, and was the father of three children. His 34-year career in education began in the classroom in Salinas, California. Joe moved to Redding August, 1963 for a Shasta County education office position recruiting new teachers to the area. He was principal at Lassen View Elementary School, and later joined Cascade Elementary School District in Anderson, ultimately serving as Superintendent for 13 years.

Joe served the community through his volunteer work for many organizations including the United Way, Rotary, and Mercy Foundation North. He was a longtime member of the Elks Club and Riverview Golf and Country Club. Joe maintained a busy lifestyle that included golf, tennis, working out at the YMCA, and annual elk hunting trips in the fall. He and Lorraine traveled extensively across the U.S. in their RVs, and also made more than a half-dozen trips touring Italy, Scotland and Europe.

Proud of his Italian heritage, Joe was a lively storyteller and keeper of family history. In his retirement, he chronicled several narratives of childhood experiences, some humorous tales of mishaps with the old family horse, and other poignant stories such as the recollections of his grandfather's funeral procession. Joe was also a voracious reader and had an intense curiosity for all things: history, literature, poetry, art, travel, sports, hunting, landscaping, carpentry, and even culinary arts. His extensive personal library is a testament to these interests and more.

Joe was devoted to his family, friends and community and always friendly, gregarious, and generous. He enjoyed an active social life, loved to entertain, and took pleasure in the fellowship of his many friends in the weekly lunch groups he attended for the past 50 years.

One of Joe's many values and guidance for living a good life: Sempre Familigia. Preceding him in death was his wife, Lorraine, and his beloved son, John. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Baker (Steve) and Antoinette Johnson (Jon), his daughter-in-law Bridget, his granddaughter Elisabeth White (Doug and three great-grandchildren, Emma, Elise, and Andrew), grandson Alexander Ball (Mongoshua), grandson Joseph A. Cresto III, granddaughter Ellen Heflin (Zach), grandson Mark Johnson (Sophia Chang), and granddaughter Roseanne Johnson (Micah Weber), grandson Matt Baker (Julie), granddaughters Meghan Baker and Sarah Baker, as well as numerous cherished nephews, nieces, and cousins.

In light of COVID-19 restrictions, a family-only burial service will be held in the next few days and a celebration of life will be planned in the future. In lieu of flowers, please consider sharing a memory on the online obituary page or a donation to Mercy Foundation North.