Dr. Jose K. Villegas

Jose, known by his family and friends as Joe, was born on April 21, 1934, to Valente Villegas and Manuela Kalaw in Manila, Philippines. After graduating from Ateneo de San Pablo high school in Laguna, he earned his M.D. from the University of Philippines Medical School in 1960.

Following his medical school graduation, Joe moved to the US and began his rotating internship and then his internal medicine residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut and pathology residency at Wilmington General Hospital in Delaware. He went on to become a fellow in gastroenterology, his sub-specialty, at Lahey Clinic, Boston, Massachusetts.

Joe met his wife, Norma “Lelet” Masilungan in 1959, and later married in New York City in 1963, going on to have five daughters. Joe practiced medicine in the Philippines from 1965 to 1973, and thereafter Joe, Norma, and their children immigrated to the United States. Joe built a successful private practice for 40 plus years in Carlinville, Illinois where he and Norma raised their family. Joe retired at the age of 80, upon which he spent his remaining years in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joe was predeceased by his parents Valente Villegas and Manuela Kalaw; his siblings Albert “Ames” Villegas, Fe Baclig, Edmundo Villegas, Estela Cayco, Teresa Daza, Josefina Obed, and Marie Mangahas; his wife’s mother Florencia Masilungan, DDS.; brother-in-law Sofronio Masilungan; and his son-in-law Clayton Lovelace.

He is survived by his wife; his children Joyce Lovelace, Therese (Paul) Andersen, Josephine Villegas, Nina (Joseph) Redden, and Maria Villegas; and his eight grandchildren Dylan and Claire Lovelace, Natalie, Jane, and Joseph Andersen, and Morgan, Max, and Adam Redden; and his sister-in-law Fleur de lis Masilungan.

Joe was hard-working, determined, and relentless in his pursuit of keeping busy. He was a loving husband and father who was dedicated to providing the best for his family. A legend amongst his friends, he was known for being generous, compassionate, and sociable. Nothing brought Joe more happiness than being surrounded by his friends and family enjoying themselves.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers and notes, donations are made to Mount Grace Convent, Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, In Memorial of Dr. Jose K. Villegas at P.O. Box 21627, St. Louis, Missouri, 63109 or 314-381-5686.

There will be a funeral mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, October 21 at 12:00PM.