Jose Pantoja Jr.

It has been said that “all the world’s a stage.” This particularly held true for Jose Pantoja, Jr. Indeed, he was one of the players. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a perpetual performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and was always willing to share that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Joe, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark, or the twinkle of an eye. Joe truly mastered the art of living and had great fun throughout his journey.

Joe first stepped onto the stage of life on June 18, 1928. He first greeted the world in Nisland, South Dakota. He was the son of Jose Pantoja, Sr. and Conception Gareno. Even as a child, it seemed as though he had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring, and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention and was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Joe was easygoing and fun-loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even in the middle of family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, he managed to find satisfying solutions to basic problems. He could see all sides of a dispute and managed to bring in his sense of humor whenever it was needed. He was raised with two siblings. Joe had two older sisters, Paula and Trini.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Joe was a “cut-up” and had a tendency to be the class clown. With the knack for being able to find a joke in just about any situation, whether in class or not, he was always ready with a laugh. He wasn’t the type of person who would say or do things to be unkind or garner all the attention. Rather, Joe simply enjoyed seeing others have a good time and to hear their laughter. As for grades, it could be said that they may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience, even if he wasn't one to get caught up in the academics. For Joe, experience was the best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying a practical approach to knowledge. He graduated from a Catholic high school in Kansas City, Missouri. For Joe, a class or a teacher had to be fun to really capture his attention. Joe really enjoyed auto shop and the fun classes.

The high school years were not just about the classroom for Joe. There were a lot of other exciting and interesting things to do and see. He found it easy to become a part of a lot of different groups and activities. This quality allowed him to continually develop new relationships and continually widen his circle of friends. For Joe, they were all potential spectators for his seemingly non-stop performances. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song, or just plain fooling around, he was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. He utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Just about anyone who knew Joe back then would probably be able to tell a story in which he played the starring role.

Joe was a very easy person to approach, simply by being so emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate. Lilia Munoz Rojas learned this firsthand. They met in 1957 in downtown Los Angeles. Their union began in 1961 in Los Angeles and they later moved to La Puente, California

Joe seemed to have an endless appetite for new activities. A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, he often found himself involved in activities that he felt were important. He was charitable, kind, and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, he was a member of several community groups. Joe had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Joe's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged.

Perhaps the reason Joe related so well to youngsters was the fact that he was always a kid at heart himself. This quality helped him in raising his own family. It was as if he remembered the way it felt to play and have fun as a child and so he tried to keep that feeling alive in his own family. He had seven children, fives sons, Joe lll, Robert, Danny, Mike and Jerry and two daughters, Joana and Mary. The children would often fill him with pride. He also tried to raise the children in a safe and nurturing environment, filled with fun and wonder. Joe had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with his children, that is where all of his attention was directed. He could spend hours engaging them with fun and creative play. In fact, Joe had a knack for turning some of those nasty old household chores into fun and playful games.

He tried his best to be a good parent. Joe also carried over the fun into family trips and vacations.

Later on, he was also blessed with nine grandchildren, Theresa-Jo, Andrea, Sonia, Alyssa, Monica, Michael, Celeste, Corinne and Daniel Jr. He also has eleven great-grandchildren.

At work, as in life, Joe was a real "people person." He had a very successful way of working effectively with others and his enthusiasm and energy were often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Joe was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the best option. Being a down-to-earth thinker allowed many to see him as an excellent problem-solver. His primary occupation was working as a waiter. He worked for the Biltmore hotel for over 18 years but retired from the California Club after 15 years of employment.

Joe made a number of new friends in the workplace, due to his outgoing personality.

Joe managed to wrap himself up in all sorts of activities during his career.

Joe was a Navy veteran. He earned not only the respect of his fellow servicemen and women, but also earned various honors, including World War ll victory medal.

Joe enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He was the kind of person who liked creating things. Some of his favorite pastimes were gambling at casino's. He also loved to dance at his VFW and American Legion dances.

Joe developed a number of favorite things throughout his life. Sitting down and watching a movie or television show was always something he enjoyed.

Joe felt excited and challenged by sports. Even those times when he may not have been the best, he loved to participate. He thoroughly enjoyed the competition as well as the pleasure of being around other people. He relished any opportunities in which he could make an impact. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, he never seemed to get caught off guard. Even when confronted by the unexpected he was able to react and often succeed, thinking quickly on his feet. Joe loved jogging and riding his beloved bikes. He also enjoyed watching his favorite teams and events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were the play off games, such as World Series Baseball, Super Bowl and NBA Championships.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Joe recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. Joe was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in La Puente for over 18 years. He was also a honorary parishioner at St. Louis of France in La Puente. He was involved in the parish fiesta's. He assisted his daughter Mary at the Gold Fish Booth.

Joe believed that you had to experience life to its fullest and his life in retirement was no different. The day to retire finally arrived in 1995. Like most things in his life, he took it in stride as one more way to have fun. Joe relocated to La Puente to be near his daughter, Mary. With his boundless energy, he remained busy with people and projects. Joe stayed active by riding his bike and traveling to Las Vegas and over the last years, loved going to the local casinos. Not only did Joe stay in touch with old friends, he befriended plenty of new people as well. Joe was a die-hard Democrat. He never missed an election. Joe belonged to the American Cancer Society which he had just recently joined along with his daughter Mary. He was looking forward to his first Relay For Life and being part of the team called "Hot Tamales".

Joe Pantoja left us on April 8, 2011. He passed away Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, California. He was 82 years old. He is survived by his loving, family, friends and the entire La Puente community. Services were handled by Custer Christiansen Mortuary. Joe was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Joe was always sharing a good laugh and bringing joy to all of those around him. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and a zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Jose Pantoja Jr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.