Joe H. Alderete

Joe H. Alderete, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep, Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Joe was born on a farm in Beaukiss, Texas September 12, 1935 to Bentura & Andrea (Hinojosa) Alderete. He was the oldest of 10 children and grew up with 6 brothers and 3 sisters. He married his beautiful bride Jovita Robles on April 17, 1954. To this marriage came five children: Ephraim, Esther, Ismael, Orpha & Olga. As a young man, Joe helped his father work the farm, worked at the cotton gin and at times working three jobs to provide for his family. On Saturday mornings and for many years, Joe and his twin daughters would prepare cole slaw and baked potatoes for the many people that would travel from afar to eat at the famous Zieschangs Bar & Cafe. After the many guests and customers would enjoy a wonderful time and meal, Joe and his family would rise early on Sunday mornings to drive to the small community of Noak, Texas to clean the entire restaurant. For 25 years, Joe worked for Walter Zieschang's Gas Station, this was at the time when a gas station attendant would check the customers oil, check the tires, clean the windshield, and pump the customers gas. After working long hours at the gas station, Joe would often find himself helping the local farmers plow the fields. Joe started running the beer route for Mr. Zieschang which consisted of making beer routes across the central Texas area. During this route, Joe met many people and later after his retirement, Joe would often ask his family to join him on these routes for a fun adventurous day trip. Many times as he was a passenger, his famous saying when asked where we were going his reply would be "You're driving this boat". So off we'd go, driving to the unknown just to see if these places still existed. Joe still remembered individuals’ names and places to eat a good ol' hamburger, onion rings or his favorite a delicious chicken fried steak.

Joe was a hardcore baseball fan and player. His pastime with his "Noak" friends would take him to watch the Houston Colt 45's the now called Houston Astros. Hidalgo Park was a part of our family’s pastime, as his father played baseball at this park. He would often reminisce of his days playing hardball for the Taylor Braves at the Hildago Park followed by playing baseball for the Noak Bears. Every Sunday afternoon, Joe and his family would travel to the small communities of Noack, Lexington, Plum, Ledbetter, Giddings and Warda, just to name a few, to watch him play some good old baseball. His love for baseball gave him the opportunity to not only play baseball but to coach his children on their baseball and softball teams. Along the way, Joe gained the respect of many of his children's friends, some of whom called him "Papi" or "Papa Joe" and who still checked on him periodically just to see how he was doing. Joe and his family's love for the sport allowed them to create many, many a memory around the game of baseball and softball. Many weekends were spent at baseball tournaments often looking back at the many great times we had as a family. Joe never missed an opportunity to revolve his life around his children’s sports activities then followed by attending his grandchildren’s sports and any event they had going on. He was their number one fan and supporter. As time and years passed, he had the opportunity to spend some fun times watching his children and grandchildren also play baseball and softball at the same Hidalgo Park he had played at in his youth.

Taking trips to the beach was also on the list of family trips, working many hours would pay off so he could take his family to Six Flags over Texas in the fall, climbing the Enchanted Rock in the Texas Hill Country and possibly catching a Texas Longhorn game. As the years past he would become a Texas Aggie fan and to give the kids a hard and humorous laugh, he jokingly would not allow his children nor grandchildren that wore any type of Texas Longhorn attire hug him. This was all in fun and always created a fun and happy atmosphere. There was always loud laughter when Papa Joe was around, and he was always ready for a party! Once the music started, he loved to dance with his beautiful wife and was always "Ready for Freddie!" When time allowed, he and his wife, Jovita would board the charter bus with their friends and spend fun times gambling in Louisana, Couchatta and then boarded a plane to Las Vegas. At times, mid-morning, they were nowhere to be found only to find out they were already in the Rio Grande Valley visiting family.

In 1977, Joe became employed at Alcoa and worked there for 20 years until his retirement. Joe and his beloved wife enjoyed their Golden Years attending their grandchildren’s extracurricular activities and never missing the opportunity to gather the family for a home cooked meal or an early Saturday morning breakfast. Even though it was an early breakfast, we never passed up the opportunity to enjoy quality family time. God was always first, with family always being his priority. He always looked forward to the holidays and glowed hearing and watching his family get crazy loud at Christmas time playing games. He was always ready to cook a big meal for his children and grandchildren’s birthdays, anything just to get everyone together. Joe taught his family that with God all things are possible, his faith in God never wavered, and he always said, "Dios Es Muy Grande!"  His family was his life, always wanting and choosing to do anything and everything with his family. He taught his family many life lessons, that hard work always pays off and being loyal and kind to others is the only way to be.

Joe's bond with his brothers and sisters was one of a kind. Having all been retired, he spent his time eating breakfast at his sister Martha's house and playing dominoes weekly with his brothers. His love for his brothers and sisters was like no other. Joe was always the first to serve others, help anyone in need, give to anyone needing a helping hand and never expecting anything in return. As a young married couple, Joe and his wife often spent many weekends spending quality family time nurturing and caring for his much younger brothers and sisters in law. To this day, the Robles clan still reminisce about the many made up games he would come up with on the weekends to play with them. Many times Joe let his children know that he prayed without ceasing for his family. Above all, Joe treasured the Lord, his family and his friends.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Jovita Robles Alderete, his parents, Ben & Andrea Alderete, his father and mother in law, Daniel & Candelaria Robles and daughter Esther Alderete Garcia.

Joe is survived by his sons and daughter in laws, Ephraim & Arlene Alderete, Ismael & Jeanie Alderete. Daughters and son in laws, Orpha & Ernest Ramirez & Olga & Gilbert Jonse. nine grandchildren; Cody Alderete (Mari), Lisa Rivera (Sal ), Albert Ray Garcia, Jr., Abigail & Elizabeth Alderete, Jennifer Parker (Brandon) Elliana Ramirez, Matthew (Kendall) & Mark Jonse, eight great-grandchildren, Parker Alderete, Madelyn Hepworth (Cory), Kathryn Rivera, Isaac Rivera Ava & Caleb Parker, Julian & Vincent Jonse, one great-great grandchild Javy Hepworth, and 6 brothers: Domingo, Thomas (Lydia) Jesse, Daniel (Martha), Chacho (Josie) & Samuel Alderete, 3 sisters, Martha Barrera, Emma Almazan (Antolin) & Teresa Vega (Eddie)

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, October 5, 2020 at Providence Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 pm at Providence Funeral Home and officiated by Joe Alderete’s Nephew, Pastor Edward Barrera. Committal service will then follow at Taylor City Cemetery.

Honoring their uncle as pallbearers will be nephews; Domingo Alderete Jr., Larry Alderete, Benny Alderete, Aaron Alderete, Lionel Robles, David Robles, Jesse Robles and Micheal Gonzales.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons; Cody Alderete, Matthew & Mark Jonse, and great-grandson, Isaac Rivera.

Joe, Chemo, Chemito, Tio, Papi, Grandpa, Mr. Joe & Pappa Joe, a man with many titles but one big heart.

Pappa Joe, "You are now Driving this Boat!"