Obituary of Joe Rosas Villarreal

Our beloved Joe Rosas Villarreal, age 85, was called to our Heavenly Father on Thursday, October 14, 2021, surrounded by the love of his family.  He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lana Jonse; his parents, Encarnacion and Nasaria Villarreal, and his brother-in-law, Manuel Morin, and sister-in-laws, Betty Villarreal and Gloria Villarreal. Joe proudly served our country as a member of the United States Navy Marines.

Joe was born on October 4th, 1936 in the laid-back town of Elgin, Texas.  His parents were Encarnacion Villarreal, who immigrated from Nava, Coahuila, Mexico, and Nasaria (Sadie) Rosas, an Elgin, Texas native.  Joe grew up with three brothers and one sister, all of whom still live in Texas.  Joe learned at an early age that when opportunities present themselves, one must be quick to respond.   When Joe was 14 years old, he had a friend with a shoeshine business, who was ready to move on to other work.  Joe leaped at the opportunity to take over the business, and quickly began making money.  He always gave the money he earned to his Mother to help with household expenses.  His Mother would often give him back some of his earnings, and with this money he would do things like go to the movies or play pool.  This would be the start of a life-long pursuit, where leaping at opportunities would always appeal to him, and he would work hard to see these opportunities through.  

He graduated from Elgin High School in 1957.  During his years there, he was a member of the band and learned to play the saxophone.  He loved music and would continue to play throughout his life.  He played and sang in several Latin and Jazz bands in the Austin area, the most notable was a Tejano Band named Mexican Brass.  Not long after graduating from high school, he decided to join the U.S. Navy.  He served as a 3rd Class Petty Officer Corpsman.  While in the Navy, he also trained as a Fleet Marine, where he gained invaluable skills and medic training.  After his service, Joe returned home and married his sweetheart-Maria Elena Gomez, from Taylor, Texas.  Joe and Maria Elena started a family, and Joe began pursuing an education in psychiatric nursing.  However, a new opportunity had presented itself within the Austin Fire Department, and the career looked promising. He responded immediately to the job posting.  His road from applicant to hire was riddled with challenges, not for the faint of heart, but he was dedicated to meeting these challenges.  In 1963, after a battery of demanding tests and physical challenges, Joe was hired by A.F.D., becoming the first Hispanic hired within the department.   But Joe’s tests and challenges were far from over,  in fact they intensified.  At the onset and well into his new career, Joe experienced racial discrimination in what was an obvious attempt to run him out of the department.  His ethnicity put him on an immediate probation.  There was no room for error.  Joe’s work had to be immaculate.   He was determined to not let anyone, “Run him off”, so he worked relentlessly to exceed all expectations.  He remained steadfast in his course of study as a firefighter, as he made his way from Firefighter I, to Firefighter II, to Driver and ultimately to the higher rank of Lieutenant.  When Joe was asked what he liked the most about his firefighting career, his answer was the camaraderie he shared with his fellow firefighters.  Joe felt a strong and shared responsibility with them, and he knew that together there was no challenge they could not meet. Joe believed in a servant leadership approach, and he used this approach to help lead efforts to recruit more minorities into the department. Along the way, he established life-long friendships and mentorships that extended outside of the workplace.  In August of 2019 Joe was designated Honorary Fire Chief by the Austin Fire Department in honor and recognition of his years of service as the first Hispanic member of the Department.  “As such, he will forever be known as a Trailblazer and for breaking barriers.” 

Joe was also very involved in his neighborhood of Montopolis.  He was a dedicated parishioner at Dolores Catholic Church, and he served in various religious ministries, such as the Sacred Heart Group and the Guadalupanos, as well as the civic organization-Lions Club International.  He also umpired little league baseball. 

Joe’s career as a firefighter came to an end in 1992, when he retired from the Austin Fire Department, but as the saying goes, “Once a firefighter, always a firefighter.”  Joe spent his early years in retirement traveling, enjoying his family, hunting, fixing and building things, as well as continuing to serve in his Montopolis neighborhood community, where he lived until his passing.  He and Maria Elena had just celebrated their 60 year wedding anniversary in September.  Together they raised 9 children-three daughters and five sons.  Joe has 19 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Joe served our country as a member of the United States Navy Marines.

He was smart as heck, and for years he cleverly worked crossword puzzles as he enjoyed his morning coffee.  Joe knew all the words!  He was also a fantastic dancer, and he was constantly sought out as a dance partner at family gatherings.  

He loved playing jokes on people, and he never lost his tremendous sense of humor.  He had us laughing to the very end.  He was a fun loving Grandfather that liked to take his grandchildren fishing, play with them on the swings, or shoot hoops at the neighborhood courts.  He never missed a UT Football game and he always rooted for the Dallas Cowboys.  He said his prayers every night. 

Joe was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 9 years ago.  This illness challenged him in ways he never imagined, but his resilience was strong and his dedication to meeting these challenges never wavered.  He continued to jump at opportunities, such as playing dominoes with family, taking frequent trips to casinos, and watching old western movies at home.  Life was challenging and good to him, and he always felt blessed by God to have his wife and family, as well as  his career as a firefighter.  Joe once said, that if given the opportunity, he would leap to do it all over again.  Joe passed away peacefully at home with his wife and children, all the Angels and Saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and our Lord Jesus Christ by his side. 

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ellen Villarreal; his children, Joseph Villarreal (Leticia), Jacob Villarreal (Ana), Michael Gomez (Jeanette), Jerrod Villarreal, Kelly Sandoval (Alberto), Javier Villarreal, and Natalia Murillo (David); his sister, Mary Morin; brothers, Jesse Villarreal, Johnny Villarreal, and George Villarreal (Frances); 19 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-9:00 p.m. with Recitation of Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Mission Funeral Home - South Side, 6204 S. First St., Austin, Texas.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Dolores Catholic Church, 1111 Montopolis Dr., Austin, Texas.  Burial will follow at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S. IH 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, Texas.