1939 ~ April 11, 2023
Joseph (Joe) Cruz Jacquez Jr., died peacefully surrounded by family on April 11, 2023.
He was born in 1939 in Walsenburg, CO, where he spent his early childhood. The family moved to Pueblo, where he spent his teen years, eventually settling in Belen, NM.
As a newcomer to Belen, he attended Belen HS, soon spotted Angela, and asked his friends who she was. He approached her, and to his surprise and delight, discovered that she too was interested. The rest is history!
Joe and Angela lived in Albuquerque's South Valley where they raised their six children. They had twenty-five grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren; a total of five living generations! His family was the most important aspect of his life, and he lovingly and generously tended to their needs.
He was an employee of the US Postal Service, and was very proud of his 37-year career. He contributed as both supervisor and manager, and he valued the mutual respect and friendships gained with both management and craft employees.
He spent his well-earned retirement doing exactly what he wanted: traveling throughout the world with Angela, listening to his favorite music, fishing, reading, watching a good movie, often Westerns, and having his daily cigar.
We will always remember shared prayers, family gatherings, listening to our parents' life stories, and watching them dance to their favorite songs, including both English and Spanish music.
He has joined his Heavenly Father and many loved ones in Heaven. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Angela; daughters, Suzanne, and Christine, daughter-in-law Renee, son Gary; grandson Sean; parents Nellie and Joseph Cruz Sr, sister, Annalee Griego and brothers Ron and John Jacquez and many other friends and family members. He is survived by his son, Joseph Jacquez III, Sharon Sanders (Gary), and Carol Sutherland (Travis); and his sisters Barbara Garcia (Tomas), Patsy Castillo (Andres), and Rita Robinson (Tom) of Hinckley, Utah.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 25, at Saint Anne's Catholic Church in Albuquerque.
