Port Lavaca – Joe Minjares, Jr., 64, of Port Lavaca, passed away 06-29-2012, after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Port Lavaca on November 3, 1947 to Fortunato Minjares, Sr. and Julia Calzada Minjares who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by granddaughter McKenzie Pilzner and nephew Neil Edward Fritsch. He served his country and was a proud veteran of the United States Navy Seabees which included a tour of duty in Viet Nam. He was a member of the American Legion; a life member of the VFW, Knights of Columbus Council # 3253, and served on the Board of Directors of Cal-Com Federal Credit Union and the Heritage Center. Joe was a member of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. Joe never met a stranger, enjoyed people and was particularly concerned with and loved young people. He served as past president of Calhoun County Babe Ruth League. Joe coached his children and continued to be a teenage baseball coach long after they graduated and had children of their own which he also coached. He was actively involved in coaching Little League, Babe Ruth Baseball, YMCA basketball and volleyball. Many young people in our county either know him as Coach Joe or Grandpa Joe. He worked at Alcoa for 42 years as a general mechanic; was past vice-president of Local Union 4350 serving as a safety co-coordinator. He was a certified MSHA instructor (University of Texas - Industrial Education Dept.)
Joe’s favorite words were “Hook Em”……It wasn’t often you saw Joe when he wasn’t wearing his Texas Longhorn’s Burnt Orange colors with the Longhorn Logo on his shirts, in his yard, on his truck hitch and in his home. Joe and subsequently his family were huge University of Texas Longhorn fans. Joe and Dolores are Texas Exes Lifetime Members, belong to the Longhorn Foundation and have held 4 season tickets for all home games since 1996.
Joe is survived by his wife , Dolores; sons Jarrod Minjares of San Antonio and Russell Pilzner (Michell) of Point Comfort and daughter Karen Castaneda (Beto) of Port Lavaca; three sisters, Gloria (Neil) Fritsch of Port Lavaca, Lupita (Bob) Pesek of Port Lavaca and Minerva (Wally) Garza of Harlingen; five grandchildren, Michael (Anna), Brandon and Kelle Sanders of Port Lavaca, Jackie Brumfield and Cade Pilzner of Point Comfort; a great grandson, Leland Sanders and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pall-bearers are Michael Sanders, Brandon Sanders, Abe Zarate, Mike Martinez, Louis Calzada, Jimmie Roznovsky, John Falcon, and Jack Mageluzzo.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Port Lavaca, with a rosary at 7 p.m on Monday, July 2nd. Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, July 3rd. at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Port Lavaca, with Father Ty Bazar officiating. Burial will follow at Port Lavaca City Cemetery.
Memorials (in lieu of flowers): American Cancer Society or Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
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