Joseph L. Tiscareno

Joe Tiscareno, 72 of Santa Ana, California, passed away on May 10, 2021. He was born in Los Angeles, California on April 6, 1949 to Isabel and Ramiro Tiscareno. Joe grew up in a big family and was one of ten children. Joe loved spending time with his siblings Ramiro Jr., Lucio, Rosemarie, Salvador, Michaela, Dolores, Jesus “Henry”, Virginia, and Angel and his many cousins. As a child, he enjoyed baseball and football and made many friends while delivering newspapers for the Herald Examiner.

Joe attended Franklin High School but enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 17. He completed his education while in the service. He was stationed at El Toro, Yuma and Vietnam. He fought in the Vietnam War and achieved the rank of Corporal. During his time in the military, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with one star and the RVN Cross of Gallantry with palm.

After his time in the military, Joe worked in the product packaging and design industry. He started as a truck driver in 1971 and worked his way up to becoming the plant manager. Joe married the love of his life, Karen Kathleen Sidwell on March 11, 1972. They had two sons, David and Nicholas. Joe had an incredible 42 years of friendship with Maureen and Jack Bishop. Joe and Karen took yearly vacations with Jack and Maureen and have many cherished memories of raising their kids together. Maureen was Joe’s female personality match, “friends for life” he would tell her.

He had a passion for sports, music and movies. He loved the LA Dodgers and the Rams and played a great game of “hearts”. He coached Little League at a park near his home and bowled in a league in Tustin. He was the funniest and kindest person with a huge smile and a sense of humor that was bigger than life. He was a great storyteller with a quick wit and his jokes were infectious. In retirement, Joe brightened the days of many while he worked as an Uber driver.

Joe fought a courageous battle against kidney cancer. He hardly ever complained and was incredibly thankful to his wife, sons, brother Henry and sister-in-law Syl, his sisters, nieces and nephews for all of their love and support. He is survived by his wife Karen, sons David and Nicholas and his granddaughter Andrea. He is also survived by his brothers, Henry and Angel, his sisters, Mickey and Virginia and a host of friends. He will be dearly missed.