Joseph Anthony Barreca Sr.

A Service and Reception to celebrate his life will be held at 12:15 pm on December 6, 2019, at St Francis of Assisi parish, 15226 – 21st Ave SW, Burien, Washington, Interment at Gethsemane Cemetery, 37600 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way, WA 98003 will precede the service at 10 am.

Joseph A. Barreca was born on June 10, 1922 in a little town west of St Louis, Missouri called Pattonville. He was the first of seven children born to Italian immigrant parents, Tony Barreca and Rose Venturella. As a child he helped his father in his truck farming business and sold fruit and vegetables door to door. During World War II, Staff Sergeant Joe Barreca was stationed in India, China, and the Marshall Islands and worked on radar equipment.

After he was discharged he married Evelyn Jane Jones, a Coast Guard SPAR and Oregon native he met in Florida. They briefly attended Univ. of Missouri in Columbus but soon moved to Seattle, Washington to attend college under the G.I. Bill. Joseph earned his Law Degree at U.W. and started his law practice on Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19, 1951. As an attorney, he specialized in bankruptcy law and was instrumental in the organization of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees. He served as a trustee in bankruptcy from 1954 until 1975. His private law practice continued for another twenty years.

Joseph and Evelyn raised seven children, eventually settling in Seahurst, Washington and attended St Francis of Assisi parish. They moved to Daystar Retirement Community in West Seattle and to Holy Family parish, and sold their home in 2003. Evelyn preceded Joseph in death in 2009 after 63 years of marriage.

Joseph was very involved in parish activities, in Toastmasters, in Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship among many other interests. He is survived by his sister Mary Jo Rumball-Petre of Simi Valley, California and his seven children: Joe Jr. (Cheryl), John (Marilyn), Jeff (Kathy Kroening), Anita (Roger Ellison), Marc (Nancy Craver), Jeannette (Bill Yake), and Rosalie (Tom Howarth), his six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces and nephews.