Joseph Trochta

Joseph Francis Trochta (1928 - 2023) Surrounded by friends and family, Joseph Francis Trochta peacefully passed away on morning, March 24, 2023. Joe Trochta was born in Louise, Texas on January 16, 1928. He graduated from The University of Texas, Austin with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1950 and enlisted in the Air Force the same year. Joe was a dedicated and loving husband for 69 years to his late wife, Charlene Sylvia (Stavinoha) Trochta (1931-2021). They married on September 20, 1952 in Austin, TX. Joe’s Air Force assignments began flying with the Air Rescue Squadrons, in the SA-16 aircraft in Keflavik Air Base in Iceland, Ellington AFB, Houston, Otis AFB, Massachusetts, and Naha Air Base, Okinawa. Joe’s next assignment was ROTC instruction at Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY. He was then transferred to Headquarters Military Air Command at Scott AFB, Illinois and began flying the C-141 transport to military installations around the world, including Southeast Asia and the Vietnam war zone. Joe’s military flying ended when he became Wing Operations Officer at Yokota Air Base in Japan, just outside Tokyo. His responsibilities there included working with the Japanese government on the closure and return of US military installations to the Japanese. During Joe’s last four years in the Air Force, he served as Wing Ops Officer for flight operations at Hickam AFB, Hawaii and military co-manager for Honolulu International Airport. On November 29, 1979 Joe closed out his 29-year Air Force career at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX, where he and Charlene would settle for the remainder of their life together. Joe served on task forces for the closing of Bergstrom AFB and eventually joined the Airport Advisory Board for what is now the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport. It was during his time in Tokyo, Japan that Joe began his love of working with bonsai trees. This love deepened while in Hawaii and where he and Charlene met their “bonsai family”. Upon retiring in Austin, he continued this passion for the remainder of his life, at times caring for as many as 30 trees. Joe was an honorary member of the Austin Bonsai Society and formed many life-long friendships within in this community. As a member of the Austin Kiwanis Club, Joe loved sharing their annual sale of Texas peaches. A longtime American Legion Post 76 member, Joe served as the state Treasurer, giving generously of his time to Veterans and their families. Joe dedicated himself for 27 years as a loyal and beloved parishioner to the community at St. Theresa Catholic Church, serving as Eucharistic Minister coordinator and on the Lecturer Committee. He and Charlene were an interregnal part of many facets of the Parish, and found many of their dearest friends within this community. Joe’s dedication to his wife Charlene was displayed most evidently through his support as she founded one of Austin’s most beloved schools, Casa Montessori, in 1982. Charlene reflected that Joe was the “quiet presence and stabilizing force behind her energy and vision” and supported all of her work in Montessori over the years. Joe could often be found working in the play yard and tending to the needs of the school’s operations. He served on the Board of Directors at Casa Montessori since its founding, sharing in the commitment for the lasting presence of the school in the community. Believing in God’s plan for them all along, Joe and Charlene’s rich friendship and love deepened over time and they remained devoted until their final days together. Our hearts rest easy knowing that both Joe and Charlene are now bathed in God’s pure love and are reunited together in His presence. Joe is survived by many loving relatives and lifelong friends - his brother, Robert Trochta; niece Christina Tornelli (husband Carlos, and children Isabella and Alessandra); nephew Joseph Lancaster (daughter Alana); niece Mary Kathleen Schliemann (husband Kurt, children Theodore and Josephine); Charlene’s sister Patty Thompson (husband John), nephew Andrew Thompson, and nephew Mark Thompson (wife Brett, and daughter Wynne). Joe was predeceased by his parents, Pauline (Erdelt) and Joe Trochta, and by his loving wife, Charlene Trochta. Joe’s family is grateful for the end-of-life care received from the Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, Mary Mann ANP-BC, his devoted caretaker, Claudia, and all who have loved and cared for Joe and Charlene over the years.

A visitation for Joe will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, TX 78731. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 10 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Austin, TX. Interment will be at 3 p.m. the same day Green Lawn Cemetery in Rosenburg, TX. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Charlene and Joe Trochta Memorial Fund at Casa Montessori, 404 #B Atlanta St, Austin, TX 78703; or to the Northwest Austin Kiwanis Club.