Joe Jr. was born on November 24th, 1965 to Joe Venustiano † and Lupita R. Garza of Brownsville, Texas.
He was the oldest of three children (1 brother Bobby Garza and 1 sister Lorrie Ann Garza Reed). From the ages of 6-11 he was an altar boy for Immaculate Conception Cathedral, while he attended Russell Elementary, and where he played pee wee football and baseball. Next, he attended Stell Middle School and further excelled in football and baseball. He was considered on of the best quarterbacks at Pace High School from 1984-1985. He then went to attend Santa Barbara City College, where he received his associates degree and played for the Vaqueros from 1987-1989. He was also invited to attend " The Walk On" program at Stanford University as a quarterback. He then decided to transfer to Austin, Texas to attend the University of Texas, where he excelled by pursuing Business Management academics.
After graduation, Joe Jr. excelled in several businesses within the retail industry including: Montgomery Wards, Walmart, Lowes and Home Depot, as a General Manager among other titles. He then went on to be a successful business owner of Smokey Joe's Barbecue in Harlingen.
Between 2009- 2010 Joe Jr. became a member within the Harlingen, Texas area, and he was invited to join the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board, which led him to help build the Veterans Memorial Park.
Joe's favorite past time was spending time with family, barbequing, watching football, fishing, hunting and jet skiing.
Joe Jr. was married to Rose Jane Garza for 28 years. He was a member at St. Anthony's Church in Harlingen, Texas, where he contributed by helping the community. Additionally, he volunteered as Santa Claus at the Driscoll Hospital in Brownsville, just as his father Joe Sr. had done.
Joe has touched so many lives with and incredible soul and will be missed by many.
A visitation for Joe will be held Monday, September 20, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00PM in Chapel of Angels at Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista, 125 Mcdavitt Blvd, Brownsville, Texas 78521. A chapel service will be held Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM, in Chapel of Peace at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, 125 Mcdavitt Blvd, Brownsville, Texas 78521. Followed by a burial at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 Mcdavitt Blvd, Brownsville, Texas 78521.
Serving as pallbearers are Robert Alejandro Sanchez II, Bobby Garza, Jordan Garza, Mike Reed, Javier Gonzalez, Joseph Arredondo and Adam Jacob Sanchez .
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.funerariadelangelbuenavista.com for the Garza family.
