Joseph Julius Venturini

Joe was born at Saint Mary’s hospital in Modesto to Joe A and Lena Venturini natives of Northern Italy. He attended Modesto High and Modesto Junior college. He worked in his father’s store, The Modesto Rod and Gun shop after school and on Saturday. Joe felt he was the luckiest kid in the world be able to hunt and fish with his father, friends and customers. It was a time when hunting and fishing was plentiful in the local areas and Delta. As a teenager would drag 10th street on Saturday nights in his jeep. He saw the first 49er game in 1946 in Kezar stadium and later the Montana to Clark "catch". Wanting to see a wider world Joe attended California Maritime Academy serving as a company commander and received a Navy commission. The U.S. Coast Guard Examining Board awarded Joe the highest grade in his graduating class. Joe married Diane Rolando, a Modesto grade school teacher prior to reporting to active duty with the U. S. Navy where as an officer to serve in the amphibious force where his duty was to lead in the second wave of assault craft during landings. He was discharged in 1955 and employed with Stanislaus County. He served on the panel that secured funding to establish the Law Enforcement Regional Training Center in Modesto. He also served on the planning and design panel for the Stanislaus County Probation Department and Juvenile Hall on Blue Gum Ave in Modesto, Their home and peach orchard were on Dry Creek at the end of Scenic Drive. After retiring he joined his brother Ronald, who had established a food distributing business in Modesto. Joe felt fortunate growing up in then small town Modesto where no one was a stranger and grateful for the opportunities it offered him. Joe remained active in the Naval Reserve He and Diane designed and gifted the war memorial naming those from Stanislaus County who were lost in the service of their country. The memorial stands on the courthouse lawn. Together they established a military exhibit at the McHenry Museum. His pastimes where hunting, fishing and sailing and a longtime member of the Newman Gun Club. Once he and Diane rented a sailboat and sailed it themselves through the San Juan Islands on vacation. He made Toys for Tots and was a 4-H leader and a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. He and Diane spent many happy times at their vacation home in Pacific Grove. Joe felt the most fortunate event in his life was to have Diane as his wife. Joe always enjoyed farming and grew almond and peaches in the Modesto -Empire areas. Preceded in death by his wife, parents and brother and is survived by sons Joe and Mark, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakewoodHughson.com for the VENTURINI family.