Joseph John Kuzmanic

1930 - 2018

Joseph John Kuzmanic

Rancho Mirage - Joseph John Kuzmanic, 87, died in his sleep April 9, 2018, while at home with his wife Lillian. He was born Dec. 2, 1930, to Stephan and Milica Pavela Kuzmanic in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

The Kuzmanics lived in Rock Springs until Joe was about 7 years old, when they moved to Huntington Park, California. As he came of age, Joe worked for Mayfair Markets in Los Angeles, earning a management position there until he was deployed by the U.S. Army in February 1952. He served his country and was honorably released in April 1954, returning to work for a time at Mayfair Markets.

In 1955 Joe married Delores Marean and together they raised two sons, Kirk and Joe Jr., at their homes in the San Pedro and Miraleste suburbs of Los Angeles County.

By the time he was 30, Joe had moved from the grocery business into the car wash business, starting with San Pedro Car Wash on Gaffey Street. Over the next 5 ½ decades, he was involved in the installation of nearly 170 car washes and at one time owned 13 car washes. He was actively involved in the Western Carwash Association and inducted into its hall of fame in 2008.

Joe moved to Rancho Mirage in 1980, where he continued his business endeavors, enjoyed church, sports, recreation, playing cards with the guys in the clubhouse, talking politics - he loved his country - and entertaining family. Over the years, Joe's home hummed with several assistants and caregivers whom he received very much as family.

In 2001, Joe met Lillian Hedberg during a product sales call she made on his car wash. The two began dating, fell in love and married in 2003.

Joe is survived by his wife Lillian; his children, Kirk (Jill) Kuzmanic and Joe (Joyce) Kuzmanic Jr.; his brother-in-law Nick (Nedilka - deceased) Mosich; five grandchildren, Morgan (Kyle) Owsley, Kristopher, Steven, Kirk Jr. and Paige Kuzmanic; two great-grandchildren, Victoria Herrick Kuzmanic and Caroline Owsley; three stepchildren Robert, Lisa and Gary Hoyle; seven step-grandchildren, Sierra, Alex, Dani, Nathan, Bekah, Joey and Christian; nephews and nieces, Nick Mosich Jr., Steven and Adrienne Graves, Mark and Michael Begovich, Christian Kuzmanic, Michele Vanderlip, Melissa Miller, Kareen Lund, Cherisse Dyas, Lynette Button, as well as their spouses and children. Joe is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Steven Mark Kuzmanic, Vida Graves, Philomena (Mike) Begovich, Nedilka Mosich and Rudy Kuzmanic.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wounded Warriors or a charity of your choice.

Services

•Catholic mass: Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at noon at Sacred Heart Catholic church, 43775 Deep Canyon Road, Palm Desert, California.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of FitzHenry-Wiefels in Palm Desert, California; telephone 760-568-9481.