Daniel G Nabarrete

Daniel Nabarrete was born January 03, 1924 to Thomas and Celsa Navarrete in Artesia, New Mexico . He was raised there attending grade school until about age 13 when he moved to California to work in the fields. He came to the Fremont area seeking work at that time. When WW II broke out he joined the Army Air Corps to do his part serving from April 6, 1943 to December 4, 1945. He was stationed in Burma , India where he was a part of the China Defensive Air Campaign and the Air Offensive against Japan . He received the Asiatic Campaign Medal and the WW II Victory Medal.

Following the war Daniel moved back to Fremont to work. In 1950 he was

Introduced to Cora, who was 24 years old, by Joe and Lucille Enriquez. As the story

goes Daniel walked her to catch her bus to go back home. At the last moment he

asked her, “Don’t go!” She missed the bus and stayed. She just kept missing the bus

and they were married on September 29, 1950. All together they were married for

61 years. They first lived in Fremont on Olive in the “Big House” in Irvington

District. Next they moved to San Jose and then to the present home in 1958.

Daniel worked in construction for some 27 years. He was involved in helping to

build what is now Valley Medical Center and Good Sam Hospital . He worked for

Local union 270 as a construction laborer during that time.

Besides his wife Cora, Daniel had another great love in life! He loved fishing. He had

a boat called, “My Last Dream” which he really enjoyed after retirement. It was

docked at Alviso where he would take it out to see to places to fish or sight seeing to

places like passing under the Golden Gate Bridge . He went with his family to all the

major Lakes in California and there are fond memories of the many camping trips

on his fishing expeditions. I was told the family went camping at least five times a

year on the major holidays to places like Lake Berryessa or Franks Track.

Daniel had another passion which reviled his love of fishing. He loved family and his

friends. He especially had a big heart for children. He adopted many friends as

family so he had numerous children who called him uncle or Grandpa. The family

told me about how all the kids used to gather from the neighborhood at his house.

He had the antique pool table in the Garage ie. “balcony” and a card table. They

could come every night as long as they went home by 9 PM. Most of the time I knew

Daniel his favorite place was sitting in the balcony. He loved to see the neighborhood

and the outdoors. There are a number of puzzle pictures on the walls in the old

garage. They are all of outdoor scenes. They reflect quality time he and Cora spent

together putting the puzzles together. He had a way of making everyone feel special

even those of us who came for his home to give care. He would always walk us to the

car saying, “Do you have to leave already?”

I had a chance to ask the family what most stood out about him. They told me he

was “good hearted. Cora told me, “He couldn’t say no to nobody.” Someone else

added, “He would give them his last bean burrito.” He loved kids and they loved

him. He also loved base ball which could get him into trouble since he loved the L.A.

Dodgers more then the Giants. He loved cooking Menudo and refried beans. In

fact, I am told he always cooked Menudo on New Years day and he did make some

a couple of months back on New Years Day this January.

At the end of his life Daniel was still thinking about fishing! I talked to him about

fishing in heaven. At first he thought I wanted to take him fishing and he asked,

“Are we going to Alviso?” His eyes got big and he raised up as if to go. I talked with

him about how Jesus can stamp your fishing license for heaven when you receive

him to walk with you. He is the best of all fishermen and knows the very best places

to fish in heaven. We had Jesus stamp his fishing license for heaven.

On Sunday, April 10th he went fishing with Jesus. I don’t know what he will call his

next boat up in heaven, but I do know he will know where all the best fishing lakes

are at. He is having a home coming celebration with his sons and friends in heaven.

We are told we will have a mansion in heaven in John 14: 1-3. Jesus promised, “In

my father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you so you can be

with me.” I don’t know what his family mansion will look like but we already sent

up a special request, “Lord, please add a balcony garage to it for him!” We also

know we are told that in heaven we will have a glorified body. This means a body

made perfect. If you could imagine him at his prime he will look that good or better

in heaven. The next time we see him he may be sitting in this new balcony. He will

have the same twinkle in he eyes and same excited way of greeting those he loved.

He will give you a big “Heyyyy” and a hug. Until then we commit him to the

greatest of all fishermen who is taking him on the fishing tour of his life in heaven.