Joe Baltazar De La Rosa

Joe Baltazar De La Rosa was born June 21, 1939 in Austin, Texas to Rafael De La Rosa and Cruzita (Baltazar) De La Rosa and passed away on February 14, 2026 in Portland, Oregon with family at his side. Joe was 86 years old.

He was raised in Austin, Texas and obtained his GED prior to joining the US Army, serving as a Reservist before his honorable discharge. Joe’s first marriage, to Margie, produced children Danny, Joe Jr., Rudy and Robert (twins), and Michael. They also lost a daughter at birth. He was then married to Caroline for almost 40 years and raised her two children (George and Kelli) as his own. After Caroline’s death, Joe called her Avon lady – Karen – to obtain his favorite cologne, Black Suede. She had also recently lost her spouse, and while talking with each other about how much they missed them, a relationship formed. The long and short of it was they went from a first date at Krispy Kreme to marriage on April 14, 2018. Joe also recognized Karen’s children Megan and Lawrence, and her children Abbie, Chase, and Gwen, as his own.

Joe enjoyed golf very much, as well as bowling, water volleyball, tennis, basketball, the dice game 10,000, dominoes, and Yahtzee. He would want to be remembered as a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, and soul; as a Prayer Warrior, praying for good health for his wife, siblings and their spouses, all of his children and their spouses, and all of his grandchildren every day, especially for those who had not yet been saved. He became a member of Family Pentecostal Church of God in November 2025, having attended many other churches in Texas, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. He was so happy to have found Family Pentecostal – he believed that God had brought he and Karen there and instantly flooded their lives with the Holy Spirit.

Memories from Joe’s siblings included his sister Linda characterizing Joe as the protector of the family after their father passed at the age of 47; Susan remembering Joe giving her away to her husband Doug at their wedding; Rafael Jr. telling the story of he and Joe sneaking away when Pastor Powers, a local minister, would come to the house to talk with the family about the Lord, but eventually he and all of the family accepted God as their Savior. Later in their lives, Rafael Jr. cherished Joe’s visits back to Lockhart, Texas and meals at a favorite local BBQ restaurant.

Joe is survived by his wife Karen Gable De La Rosa; siblings Rafael Jr., Paul, Richard, Alex, David, Linda, Mary, and Susan; children Danny, Joe Jr., Rudy, Robert, Michael, George, and Kelli; grandchildren Tony, Marisa, Alex, Faythe, Conor, Kaitlyn, Darrienne, Dakota, Ashley, and Amy; and great-grandchildren Marrisa, Arturo, Enoch, Estella, Lexie, Brandon, Rockell, Marilyn, and Elijah.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the family and friends who helped take care of Joe and who went above and beyond to help out at home, at the hotel, and during his hospice care, and also to all who brought them nourishing food, hauled things away, did manual work and cleaned sinks full of dishes, and sat and visited and prayed together.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Family Pentecostal Church of God, 6056 SE 136th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, on March 14, 2026, at 12:00 pm.

Private family interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.