June 24, 1936 — July 13, 2017
Joe Martinez was born June 24, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York to Teodora Rodriguez and Jose Martinez, who emigrated from Cordoba, Spain.
When Joe was young, his family moved to Oklahoma for job opportunities, eventually settling in California. Joe grew up in Sunnyvale, California where he played baseball and football for Fremont High School and met his wife of sixty years, Bernice Gouveia.
Joe and Bernice raised six children together; Christie (spouse Howie), Cindy (spouse Jeff), Cari, (spouse Mike), Rob, (spouse Patricia), Tracy (spouse Mike), Jenny (spouse Grant). They had 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Joe and Bernice moved to Oregon 46 years ago to live on a farm, creating fabulous memories with their family and friends.
Joe was a man who lived a life full of love, generosity, and perseverance; always seeing the positive in every situation.
He loved his family, and was fully devoted to them. He extended that love and commitment to his sisters, Dolores and Jeanette, brother Billy, and many in-laws.
He valued hard work, never hesitating to take on new and multiple ventures to support his family.
He valued fun, enjoying cards or golf with anyone who was up for the challenge. Joe valued generosity, continually offering help, gifts, food and hospitality to all who were fortunate enough to have crossed his path. He lived an extraordinary life of integrity, love, gratitude, strength with purpose and meaning.
Thank you, Joe, for being here with us for the time you had to spend. Your gifts will be in our hearts and minds. May we honor you by living a life fully in line with our values and in love with life, as you showed us so well. Rest in peace and may you be on a golf course somewhere walking 18 holes and playing the best round you’ve ever played.
There will be a celebration of life at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 23 at Joe and Bernice’s home.
In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and/or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington St., Albany, OR 97321.
Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com. |