Joseph Velez

Joseph Velez , 76 years old, passed away at home on April 16, 2013. He was born November 14, 1936 in Ciales, Puerto Rico to Arturo and Mary Velez.When he was a small child, Joe's family moved to New York City and Joe attended school there. He joined the military in 1954 and spent temporary duty assignments in Alaska, England, Germany, Japan, and Argentina as well as being permanently based in Illinois, Nebraska, New York, Greenland, California, and New Mexico. After his military retirement in 1974, he found a second career working for Ross Aviation. In 1956 he met and married Gail Hubbard in Beatrice, Nebraska. Their first daughter Christine was born in California and Jessica was born in New Mexico. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a large family reunion at their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico and their 50th wedding anniversary was celebrated at Casa Rondena Winery in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico.Joe loved people and his first passion was always his family and friends. He loved to travel and owned a series of travel trailers, fifth wheelers, and a motor home over the years. Never one to sit still, he was also very active around his home and always doing yard work, house repairs, car repairs, and building or remodeling something. Joe had a marvelous sense of humor, loved to laugh, and listen to or tell jokes and stories. Joe loved the United States of America and was proud of his military service in the US Air Force. Joe is survived by his wife Gail; daughters Christine Mazza and her husband Rome Mazza and Jessica Velez and her soul mate Todd Werner; granddaughter Katie Mazza and her fiancé Josh O'Connell; sisters Celeste Saltar (Francisco) and Mary Baez (Louis); brother Francisco Becerra; father Arturo Velez (Ida); and three half-sisters, Hilda Velez, Anna May Wendt (Larry), Diana Czerwinski (Jerry); mother-in-law Mary "Sandy" Hubbard; four brothers-in-law Vern Hubbard, Leland Hubbard (Cheryl), Leonard "Jack" Hubbard, Ross Hubbard (Pam); and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones. Joe is preceded in death by his mother Mary Blanco Cortes Zamora, step-father Francisco Becerra, step-father Jose Zamora, and father-in-law Malvern "Hub" Hubbard.In tears we saw you fading,And watched you pass away.Our hearts were deeply saddened,We wanted you to stay.But when we saw you sleeping,So peaceful, free from pain,How could we wish you back with us,To suffer that again.It broke our heartsto lose you,But you did not go alone,For part of us went with you,The day God took you home.The family would like to express a special thank you to Robert, Yuri, and Robin of Heritage Hospice for their services and the comfort provided to Joe. Private burial will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.Friends are invited to a memorial to celebrate his life at 1:00 PM, Friday, April 26, 2013, at FRENCH FUNERALS, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE. There will be a reception at French Funerals following the memorial service. Friends are always welcome to visit Gail and family at her home at any time.If you wish, donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 in lieu of flowers.