Joseph Daniel Sanchez

Joseph Daniel Sanchez was born in San Francisco on May 8, 1956. He was the middle child in a family of eight siblings and is survived by his beloved siblings, Brunilda, Nephtali, Anna, Noemi, and Rachel.

From a young age, Joe was drawn to working with his hands. In high school, he excelled in auto shop and woodworking, and during the summers, he helped his father with construction projects. That love for building and fixing things followed him throughout his life and became a foundation for his career.

After high school, Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Guam during the Vietnam War. He served as a weapons mechanic, loading munitions on aircraft—a role that required precision, discipline, and courage. He completed his initial service with honor and returned to Southern California, ready to begin a new chapter and take a break from Military life. Joe would later return to the Air Force as a Reservist at March ARB, retiring after 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant.

In 1979, he met the love of his life, Iris Valentin. They married just eight months later. When you saw them together, you understood why—they belonged to each other. Soon after, they started their family: Jonathan was born the following year, and Nicole came two years later. Joe was a dedicated husband and father for 46 years.

Joe began his 35-year career in aerospace at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, where he gained recognition for designing and building sophisticated tooling systems for advanced commercial and military aircraft. One story stands out: when McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Engineers were unable to resolve a major tooling issue on an aircraft assembly line in South Korea, they sent Joe, along with a few colleagues. Joe was able to find a solution that no one else could. Joe was humble, skilled, and always dependable in his career.

Joe also continued his education during this time, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and taking several real estate courses that allowed him to be a successful real estate investor during his peak earning years.

Later, Joe joined a special program at Boeing, where he worked on the C-17 Globemaster, the Air Force’s premier airlift aircraft. He remained with the program until he retired, leaving a legacy of excellence and craftsmanship. Joe retired from Boeing in 2015.

In retirement, Joe spent his time working on passion projects and spending time with family. Then he became a grandfather to Morgan and Courtney, and they became a top priority; he was an active and wonderful grandfather.

Joseph Daniel Sanchez, lived with honor, worked with pride, and loved his family deeply. His legacy lives on in every person he helped, every life he touched, and every lesson he taught. Joe is now in Heaven and looking down on us.