Jose Julian Roig Sr.

Jose was born in a small town near San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the son of Carmen Mendez and brother to 8 siblings. As a teenager, he enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper and cook. He was a proud Korean War veteran. He lived and worked in Puerto Rico until moving to Chicago, Illinois in the 1960’s where he met his wife, Elva, and started a family, while continuing to support his mother and younger siblings in Puerto Rico. Jose was a non-stop, jack-of-all-trades, often working two jobs at time, and a stead-fast do-it-yourselfer, capable of almost anything he set his mind on. In his early years he was a truck driver, carpenter, and assembly worker. For over 20 years he worked Ramp Service for TWA at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, then commuted to St Louis to work for American Airlines for several more years, all while running a family-owned grocery store in Chicago. After moving to Palm Bay, Florida in 1994, he had a video store for several years, before working for Pizza Hut during his “retirement.”

Jose was the definition of the hard-working family man. Both family and friends knew his love and support, by either living under his roof for a time or through his fix-it-all skills and tenacity for getting things done. He loved to dance and was the first one on the dance floor at family events and parties. He recently danced down the aisle with his cane at his granddaughter’s wedding. He loved to make people laugh with silly jokes and by playing small tricks, like tapping you on your shoulder and quickly darting away. He liked to cook and use all the kitchen gadgets that make old recipes easier and quicker. He enjoyed bingo and playing his “numbers.” He was always working on something; if it wasn’t small engine repair, it was building or re-building something for his chickens and ducks. In his later years, he loved to take cruise vacations and proudly saved all of his ship cards as souvenirs of every trip.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elva, three children, Jose, Carmen and Sam, their spouses Stacey, Christopher and Rachel, nine grandchildren, Joshua, Joseph, Veronica, Zoe, Nathaniel, Vanessa, Ja’Niece, Alex and Tatiana, and seven great-grandchildren, Emma, Owen, Arlo, Scarlett, Jahari, Jovani, Jesani, and two more who are on their way, as well as, 13 chickens, 3 ducks and their dog, Roxie. He is also very missed by a large extended family and many dear friends.

The family held a private Celebration of Life at home in his yard, as he would have liked it, on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Following his cremation and the future passing of his wife and sister, his final resting place will be at the Fountainhead in Palm Bay, Florida.