Joe Eulelio Rocha

Born in Trinidad, Colorado on December 10th 1924 to Pally Rocha and his father Juan Rocha, Joe lived there till the age of 5 and moved with family to Sidney, Montana, later to Casper, Wyoming, where he started school. He finished his education in Harding, Montana when his father was killed in an accident and he went back to work on their ranch in Douglas, Wyoming and care for his mother, 4 sisters, Mary, Nelly F., Lupe, and Nelly R., also 3 brothers, Mike, Pasco, and John. He moved with family to the Yakima Valley in 1941 and resided here till his death.

He met and married Maxine Clark in Toppenish in 1943, they had 4 children, Allan J. Rocha, Renee L Rodriguez, John D. Rocha, and Debra J. Orozco.

Joe entered the Army in 1945 and saw duty during World War II in the Philippines, Okinawa and Seoul Korea, where he worked as a combat medic and drove ambulances. He was honorably discharged in 1947 when the war ended overseas.

He then came home and started working at John Haas at Yakima Golding farm home ranch. He then retired from there in 1990 but then continued to working at Haas mulcher warehouse in Yakima and worked with them for 60 years.

In his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors and enjoyed trips to the mountains, hunting, and fishing. Most of all he enjoyed his time playing music to sing along to with his wife, brothers, kids and grandkids. But if one thing is for certain, he gifted us all with his love for music, even with half of a finger missing he could play the guitar better than anyone known.

Survived by wife Maxine, sister Nelly, daughters Debra Orozco and Renee Rodriguez, sons Allan Rocha and John Rocha, granddaughters Paula Rodriguez, Vicky Hernandez, Erica Manriquez, and Ana Rocha, grandsons Joey Rocha, Shawn Rocha, Adam Orozco and Jose Rocha, with great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

He is now preceded in death by his mother Polly Rocha, his father Juan Rocha, sisters Lupe Rocha, Nelly Rocha, Mary Hernandez, brothers John, Mike, Pasco, and granddaughter Lisa Rocha.

A huge thank you goes to Cottage in the Meadow nursing staff and Doctor Waber and Dave for making this time of his passing smooth and helpful to the family.

A visitation will be at Merritt Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 4-8 p.m. with a Rosary Service starting at 6 p.m. A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Reservation Community Memorial Park.