Joe T. Zuniga Jr.
July 13, 1939 - September 14, 2021
OCEANSIDE — Joe T. Zuniga Jr., 82, of Oceanside, California, died in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family on Sept. 14, 2021, due to complications from Alzheimer’s.
Joe is survived by his wife Ana of 33 years; son Joe T. (Lupita) Zuniga III and daughters Rochelle (Steve) Davenport, Janine (Jari Niskala) Zuniga, Catherine Zuniga, Suzie (Mark) Avila, and Cristina Zuniga; grandchildren Carmen Waterloo, Joe T. (AmyMarie) Zuniga IV, Adrienne (Mollie) ZunigaSummers, Jeremy Cofsky, Emily Cofsky, Blanche Niskala-Zuniga, Mannix Niskala-Zuniga, Nicholas preceded in death by his parents Jose T. and Mary Louise Zuniga, and sisters Rebecca Castaneda, Mary Zuniga-Shanks, Virginia Zuniga and Patricia Melsheimer.
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1939, Joe was the first of 10 children. In 1969, he moved his family to California. He worked in sales in the stationery business and for car dealerships. He then worked as a senior buyer at Northrop Corp. in Hawthorne for 16 years before retiring and moving to Oceanside.
Joe had a deep love of music throughout his life, and it lives on in his children. He enjoyed traveling and camping across the United States, often by motorcycle, and annual trips to his beloved Yosemite. He loved all sports, especially football.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, at the Historic Old Mission Church at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, 4050 Mission Ave., at 1:30 p.m. with Fr. Anthony Garibaldi officiating. The family will host a reception at a hall at the mission immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mission San Luis Rey.