Joe R. Perez

Joe was born in Tuxpan, in a little town of Nayarit, Mexico, December 22, 1919. His mother brought him and his brother John and sister Jessi, and immigrated to the U.S. around 1922. They settled in Anaheim, California. As a young man, Joe worked as a ranch hand on the Bastinchury citrus farm. There he learned to operate farm tractors that fumigated the orchards.

At the age of 23 years old, he entered the service, in the Army Air corp and was sent to active duty, during WW11, European Theater of Operation, on November 24, 1942. After boot camp his MOS was with the 983rd Military Police Company. The high point in his military career was when his company was waiting for General Patton, for impending European invasion.

However after boot camp and prior to going to Mays Landing, New Jersey for shipment overseas and while on leave, he was introduced to a lady, working in an Anaheim citrus packing house, named Elvira Ruiz. He met her on a Saturday and a week later they were married, on July 22, 1943. He went one day AWOL for the Honeymoon and the next day hoped on a train to New Jersey. Mom's mother, Virginia said that the marriage would never last, well Joe missed, what would have been his 74th wedding anniversary by over month with my Mom, July,22,2017.

After the war Dad and Mom settled in Santa Ana, California, in a new home, on Townsend street. From his ranch experience he started a trash truck business, which later grew into a dump truck and tractor business. He would do clean up jobs with his 8n Ford tractor then haul it away in his truck. He also had his own yard that kept aggregate material, sand and rock, which was sold to customers, for construction. He and mom had this business for about 15 years. They sold the business and he joined the union, Operating Engineers, as a heavy equipment operator. During his career as an operator he ran front loaders, graders and the large D8 bulldozer. His specialty machine was the John Deere giant trenching machine. Joe retired from the union after 12 years.

Well retirement was not for him, he and mom started up a bicycle rental business in our new town of Lake Elsinore. This business grew into a full time shop, which became "Joe's Bicycle Shop". Neighborhood kids liked coming to the shop to get their bikes fixed and Joe would not charge them. The bicycle rental was a concession that was run from the Lake Elsinore State Park, which was managed by Jess Watkins. The concession was on the beach area and was run mostly by us kids during the summers. Also, during the off season our dad worked with Jess as a grounds maintenance foremen. So if you ever visit the State Park in Lake Elsinore, you will notice many beautiful tress, from pines to fruitless mulberry. Well our dad planted about 80 percent of those trees, so think of dad while your there. About six years later he closed the shops and retired again.

Well retirement still was not for him. He went back to work with the Lake Elsinore Valley Cemetery, as the foreman of the grounds. With his knowledge of tractors and backhoes, it was a job come true. He use to joke about being foreman and having over a hundred people under him.

Finally Joe retired for good, in 1985. He and mom traveled in their motor home and also traveled a lot in their 1930 Model A Ford and were members of the "Hemet A's". The Model A has been around this family since the time we lived in Santa Ana. Our dad and my older brother Rudy bought a late 1931 four door sedan and was in the family for many years. He joined and helped start what is now the "Orange County Model A Ford Club". Dad was a charter member. Although we don't think he did retire, because he started a small business or he called it a hobby, rebuilding Model A water pumps and distributors and sold them at antique car swap meets. Joe always keep himself busy doing something and liked helping others, specially his fellow Model A'ers when they ever had engine problems.

In 2012 he was diagnosed Dementia. Dad served his country with pride and honor. He believed in and lived the American Dream. His family was his priority and in his families eyes he was our Hero. Dad passed quietly with his wife and children and grand children at his bed side. June 2, 2017. He will be missed, but he will always be in our hearts and memories.