November 11, 1964 ~ September 25, 2021
Born in: Pueblo, CO
Resided in:
Pueblo, CO
Joseph P. Garcia, 56, passed away from a three-year battle with cancer on September 25, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Ruth Garcia; sons, Mikhail (Lauren) Garcia and Jalen (Ana) Garcia; parents, Joe and Theresa Garcia; and sisters, Jacque (Cameron) Phillips and Jessica Garcia. Joe is also survived by his aunts and uncles of the Joe and Raquel Garcia Family and Victor and Ruby Gonzales Family; In-laws, Ted and Marie Mutz Family; and 25 nieces and nephews. Godchildren, Jerica Khosla and Jacob Mutz.
Joe was born on November 11, 1964. He graduated from Centennial High School in 1983. He earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from CSU-P. Joe was employed by Colorado Department of Transportation from 1987 to 2016, retiring as a Regional Engineer in Greeley. He finished his career as a Senior Engineer Planner at Applied Engineering Management.
Joe loved his school days, although he found Kindergarten to be a waste of time and skipped it. He would often reminisce about those days and all his friendships. Joe would help other students struggling with assignments because he wanted to share his knowledge with them and build them up. From there it led to Joe tutoring, mentoring, coaching, and cheerleading a number of students over the years well into his adulthood.
Joe enjoyed sports. He ran cross country and track in high school. He coached every sport his sons participated in while they were growing up. Golf was his favorite. Having to miss playing in the Wednesday night men’s league due to cancer was very hard on him. Joe also enjoyed fishing and could remember every fishing outing he had with his grandpas and uncles.
Joe liked wearing his Kansas Jayhawks hoody when he would go shopping because he knew he would come across another fan, and they would strike up a conversation, “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk”! When not rocking his Jayhawks hoody, he loved wearing tie-dye.
Joe always wondered what his mission in life was. He could not see that he was accomplishing his purpose, to leave this world a better place than when he came into it. He was a role model to his large family: to be polite, educated, and hard-working. His family admired him. His 25 nieces and nephews meant the world to him—and him to them.
We saw him as a man of incredible faith. He always said, “God is driving; I’m just along for the ride. Hold on, it’s going to get bumpy.” He knew life would hand him challenges, and he carried his cross faithfully.
He was no average Joe.
Those who wish may join us for a funeral Mass, 2 p.m. Thursday, September 30, 2021, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 307 East Mesa. Interment, Roselawn Cemetery. Online condolences, www.MontgomerySteward.com
Services
Funeral Mass: September 30, 2021 2:00 pm
St. Mary Help of Christians Church
217 E. Mesa Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81006
719-296-8778
Graveside Service:
Roselawn Cemetery
1706 Roselawn Road
Pueblo, CO 81006
719-542-1552
I’m so sorry for Joe’s loss to his family and friends. Joe definitely fulfilled his mission in life by serving as an example of how to be a great human being and touch more lives than can be counted.
I first met Joe in May 2013 in my role as CDOT’s statewide ADA Coordinator. Joe helped us kick off Region 2’s contribution to a 1st-ever statewide inventory of ADA curb ramps and pedestrian pushbuttons. Here’s an excerpt from my thank you to Joe after our initial meeting in the field: “Thank you for your … enthusiastic participation & support – your professional input & ‘out of the curb/intersection’ thinking are greatly appreciated.” Joe was so kind, thoughtful, and invested in our work. I also witnessed the wonderful way he mentored Timothy McGhghy and Michael Aguirre. Joe was instrumental in teaching us how to integrate ADA design into roadway design.
Joe, I know the good feelings you’ve left everyone with will continue to be paid forward to continue making this world a better place.
Please accept my most sincere condolences and sympathies to the Garcia family and all their friends. Wishing you all the best.
Joe was one of the bests and will be extremely missed!
Joe was my boss at CDOT for a couple of years and during that time he taught me so much about roadway engineering, management, life philosophy, faith and positivity. Joe’s outlook on life was extremely positive. Joe made work fun and motivated the team to be our best. I will always remember Joe’s office pranks, him asking me to put my feet together to act like a golfing hole so he could practice his putting while we are discussing work and how everything he said had a purpose (sometimes it took a while to understand that purpose). I hope someday that I could be half at great as Joe was.
One of the last things he told me was to focus on time with your kids as that is what is most important. I have been living life with that philosophy since we last talked and I agree that was exactly what I needed to hear when we told me that.
I will never forget the time I spent with Joe, he was not just my boss, but he was my friend. A lot of my life and professional goals came from my discussions with Joe. I will never forget him.
My deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Ruth and family and to Joe and Theresa’s family. I am saddened by the passing of JoJo, my friend. Rest in peace Jo.
With my deepest sympathy’s and sincere condolences to Ruth, Joe and Theresa’s family. I am saddened of JoJo’s passing. Rest in Peace my friend. It was great to know you. May peace be with your families.
I am so sorry at Joe Garcia’s loss to his family and so many friends. I am among Joe’s numerous CDOT friends and acquaintances who worked with Joe in the “blue building” in Pueblo, where he and his comedy crew kept things fun, silly and happy while getting some great work out the door. I applauded him keeping his well-worn little yellow truck going year after year. He was an easy person to be your friend, and to drive you nutty when he latched little black binder clips to the back of your shirt when you weren’t paying attention. We compared notes on our kids of similar age, and he seemed a great family man. I will miss Joe and treasure that our paths in life crossed in the grander eternity, and will look for him someday on the other side.
Joe and Theresa sorry to hear about your beautiful son. I remember him when he was so young and visit Theresa at Montgomery Ward and say hi to all the workers. He was a happy and nice person. My prayers are with you
Ruth, Joe and Theresa,
I was so sad to read of Joe’s passing. Such a fine man in the awesome years of his life.
I feel your heartache.
May he Rest in God’s Peace and May God surround you with His love.
I had the pleasure of working with Joe. He was always so positive and kind. My sincerest sympathy to all his family. May his kindness, laughter and love bring smiles to your faces for many years to come.
Michele Saenz
I am fortunate Joe was part of my life. I met him at a time when his words were vital to the path that I am on today, career and personal. He was a wonderful mentor and friend that cared deeply about all of us on his team. When things would get too serious or intense, he would make some sort of a joke that had everyone smiling at each other. His humor was infectious and, of course, it started a prank war. The pranks at first were small; hiding his putter in the ceiling panels, zip-tying items in his office, but eventually they got too big and the final prank exposed his sincere dislike for heights. Sorry about that one Joe 🙂
In our final words to each other, we had discussed getting drinks again. I’ll be sure to pour one out for you. You’re forever loved.
I worked with Joe on the 2013 Flood he was a great boss and a great friend. He will be greatly missed. God Bless Joe and his family. 🙏
I remember Joe, Mike Perez, Dave Poling, Dave Stanifer and Don Garcia (known as the “brat pack” in our Pueblo CDOT office keeping the fun and humor going on a daily basis. As we grow over the years and time passes, I hope we all remember “Joey”. He had a great heart!
Joe was a good man and great coworker! We worked long hours during the 2013 flood recovery and he made it so much easier!
Thanks for all the tomatoes from your garden, they were delicious!
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Met and worked with Joe in Pueblo. I worked across the street in the Constrution Engineering. Outside of the workplace played basketball with Joe. Very competitive also knew he liked golf. Fortunate to had played with him. Joe you were a great person. Will be missed. My Condolences and Prayers for your Family and Loved ones. Your work for CDOT will always be appreciated and remembered by those that were affected.
I worked with Joe at CDOT for several years and always enjoyed working with him. He will be greatly missed. God Bless.
Joe was a wonderful person. I had the opportunity to work with him during the 2013 floods, where he brought passion and insight during a very trying time for our Organization. Joe was thoughtful and compassionate to everyone he met. He had an infectious smile and loved to tell jokes which lightened long hours spent together. Joe loved CDOT, you could tell by his continuous motivation to make our transportation system better. I know he’s play golf somewhere where there are no slices or bogeys. He will be greatly missed.
Jeff VanMatre
Joe. You will be missed.
Vaishali
I didn’t have the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with Joe but I had many a virtual information exchange opportunities with him. I fully understand his devotion to family and theirs to him. Through his battle with cancer he always maintained a positive outlook on the future and was nothing but a pillar of strength. His determination and positive outlook was inspirational. If I had to pick someone to be in a foxhole with me when things were looking bleak, Joe would be that person. I’m saddened by his loss to this world but God now has a new soul that will bless the heavens. My condolences to his family and friends but rest assured his spirit will remain with us all.
He made me laugh, feel good about our efforts when things were less than ideal, and how to celebrate when we were successful in our bids for work.
His joy for life and work were infectious and made our time together since meeting in 2013 a joy.
My best memories were our team “field trip” and lunch which took us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Joe was not a fan of heights and how he would treat me to a chocolate when we would leave a meeting in Utah to fly home to Colorado. He would never let me buy our treats for making it through another world-wind work trip but they were our special treat to pat ourselves on the back.
I will miss him and will continue to carry the torch for our resilience research efforts in his name.
Love you Joe. ❤️
Joe,
we always said that we’ll get a beer the next time we met again, I’m sad to see you go, I would’ve enjoyed your company once more in my life.
You were one of the greatest influences on my early professional career and taught me patience, respect, keeping things simple, and the absolute wealth of knowledge one can glean from others not of the same grain as your own.
Joe,
thank you for everything,
Devon Burton
Joe is home!!! May he rest in peace now.
Joanie Mihalick