He was born on March 19, 1928 to Seferino Ramirez and Soledad (Gonzales) in Columbus, Texas. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and On September 12, 1951, he married Mary (Pulido Castillo) Ramirez and took on the role of loving father to her young sons, Roque (Rocky) and Ruben. Through their union, they welcomed a son and daughter, Ronnie and Rosemary (Penny).

Joe attended school in Columbus and worked for Will Paulson as a plumber for 2 years before going to work for Emil Untermeyer who owned a hardware store and funeral home. After that he worked for Parker Brothers Sand and Gravel for 39 years. From there he continued in the Sand and Gravel business, working for B & B Sand and Gravel and Martin Marietta Materials before officially retiring.

Not one to sit for long, he started a new enterprise with the creation of Joe Ramirez Lawn Service which he operated until 2021. Even though lawn work in the Texas heat isn’t the easiest “retirement,” he thoroughly enjoyed his job, and his clients became his friends.

Joe enjoyed being his own boss, creating folk art and collecting petrified wood. He was enamored with airplanes and one of his life’s highlights was having the opportunity to take a private plane ride over Colorado County. He rescued old encyclopedias and books on history from the recycling bin and enjoyed reading them.

Living 95 years is an achievement all on it’s own, but Joe’s many personal accomplishments, one of which was building his first home with only his dad and some directions in a book as guides. He was whip smart with a tireless mind that drove him to always look at things more closely to try to find solutions and better ways of doing things. His life was long and full, but time winds down for all of us and at the end, he was ready to move on to his next adventure. We grieve our loss. Joe will be missed.

Joe is survived by sons Roque Castillo and wife Pat Girndt Castillo and Ronnie Ramirez and fiancé Debbie Straker; daughter- in-law Peggy Girndt Castillo; son-in-law David Ramirez; sister Nicanora Gonzalez, grandchildren Lisa Castillo, Carlos Ramirez and wife Ashlee Garrett, Jacklyn Ramirez, Kari Ramirez and companion (Randy), Raegan Castillo-Fontana and husband Adam, Ryne Castillo and Cody Ramirez. Great-grandchildren Jayda Ramirez, RJ Stovall, Tyrin Stovall, Marylee Castillo- Fontana, CJ and Aden Ramirez, Olivia Ramirez.

He was preceded in death by his parents Seferino and Soledad Ramirez, wife Mary Ramirez, son Ruben Castillo, daughter Rosemary (Penny) Ramirez? brother Tony Ramirez, sisters Nita Ramirez Marzola and Mary Consuelo Ramirez Gonzalez.

Visitation was held on Sunday, August 13, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas. A parish prayer service and rosary was held at 5:00 PM with Deacon John Glueck officiating.

The Funeral Service was held on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Fr. James Dvorak officiated.

Burial took place in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Columbus, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of: Joe Ramirez, Ruben Castillo and Penny Ramirez, American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284 or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.

Henneke Funeral Home Columbus, Texas