Joseph Michael Fazio

Joe Fazio was born on March 12, 1948 in Canarsie, NY (Brooklynn) to Salvatore and Rose (DeGeorge) Fazio.  He grew up with his sister, Sandra, and several cousins.  His youngest sister, Laurie came along later in 1966.

Family gatherings were frequent.  Joe was an energetic and happy child.  He had many friends and was well liked.  There was always a group of kids playing in the yard or street.

Joe started school at PS 114.  From there he went to Holy Family Catholic School and graduated 8th grade and went on to junior high.

In 1963 the Fazios (with their dog Chippy) and the Perris (cousins’ family) all moved to California.  What a road trip.

In California, Joe went to Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove.  After his junior year, he decided to go out on his own.  He packed up his guitar and moved to Merced where he received his AA degree.  From there he went to Sacramento State where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in communication.

Joe lived to play guitar.  He traveled up and down the west coast from Portland to Los Angeles singing songs by James Taylor, the Eagles and Kenny Rogers to name a few.  He settled in San Jose for about three years where he sang at night and worked at Fairchild as a human resources manager.

In 1979, he met his wife (Debbie) of 43 years, who was waitressing at one of Joe’s stops along the coast.  They were married on July 5, 1980.  Joe and Debbie started several business together, including KG Industries in 1997.  In 2001 they moved to Wisconsin, and in 2010 to Texas where Debbie still runs KG.  Joe and Debbie were soul mates.  They genuinely enjoyed each other’s company—working and living together, a rarity for many couples.

Joe and Debbie have two sons, David (wife Sara) and Chris (wife Tess).  David and Sara gave them two grandsons, Wyatt and Emmett, who lovingly referred to Joe as “Papa Joe.”

By 2010, Joe and Debbie took KG and ran to Texas.  In Texas, Joe and Debbie lived mini ranch on 32 acres and had farm animals, cats and dogs over the years.  Now Debbie is down to one horse, two cats and her dog, Bailey.  Joe loved the horses—his best gal being Gemini.  He loved to ride until his health just wouldn’t allow it.  He loved target shooting—one of his favorite pastimes which he did up to a few months before he passed.

Joe was loved by all.  He had a genuine connection with clients and would devote hours to helping them.  His employees thought the world of him, and he loved to make them laugh.  Joe’s son, David, revered him and learned so much of how to be a dad from him.  Joe’s grandchildren liked for him to show off his tractor and motorcycle.  Joe had a knack for even charming strangers with his cheeky, but earnestly kind, demeanor.

As one of his doctors jokingly said, Joe had a horseshoe lodged firmly up his back side.  Joe battled so many illnesses over the span of his life: heart attacks, four vessel bypass, strokes, cancer and finally heart failure—which is the one that finally managed to get him.  Joe was given 6-18 months to live, but being the fighter he was, made it three years.  He died peacefully with Debbie by his side on August 17, 2023.

The Fazio Family now has a Joe-sized hole that can never be refilled.  Joe will be terribly missed, but never forgotten.

Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 at Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos G Parker Blvd. NW in Taylor on November 20, 2023.  The service will be followed by a light meal, Taylor SPJST Lodge 29 at 5025 FM 619 in Taylor.