Juan Jose Ochoa Sr.

Juan Jose (“Joe”) Ochoa, Sr., born in Cadereyta, outside Monterrey, NL, Mexico, on February 18, 1934 passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 27, 2021 at 87 years old. He was born to Guadalupe Ochoa and Maria Antonia Gomez and was raised in the Chapman Ranch area outside Corpus Christi. He attended London School and ultimately graduated from Del Mar College. He served in the US Army, stationed in Germany, after the Korean Conflict.

While growing up with his family at Chapman Ranch (une Chapeňio), he learned to appreciate the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish, having many memorable days with his brothers. He grew up in a large family being the youngest of 11 children, five which lived to adulthood. He loved world-wide wrestling, and playing pool, cards and dominoes. He loved working on cars and riding motorcycles. At one point he fixed and sold a 1953 Cadillac (there was nothing he could not fix) and rode an Indian Chief (his one regret in life was selling this beauty) but he loved his Harley’s and rode them thru his late 50’s.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a strong family man, intelligent, generous, and active in the community. He was always a caring man, respectful of others’ feelings and opinions, and having a good sense of humor. He was a coach for several years at Westside Little League, and also often helped in the Boy Scouts especially enjoying wooden car derby days, and camping out. Later, he moved to the Calallen area and enjoyed St Thomas the Apostle Church and their Czechfest days.

He attended school through the 8th grade, and later obtained a GED. While at Del Mar, he worked during the day, went to school at night, and also took on weekend jobs, all to support his family and pursue his dreams of advancement. He started his own business in the 1970’s and became a self-employed welder/ machinist, and retired in 2000. He was supportive of his wife in all of her pursuits, especially education and business ventures.

Joe is preceded in death by his son John Ochoa, parents, siblings: Edwardo (Lalo) Ochoa, Encarnacion (Cano) Ochoa, and Martina Perez. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irma D. Ochoa, children Susan Ochoa (former, James Spiering), Daniel Ochoa, grandchildren Rachel Hernandez (Jose Hernandez), Claire Albanese (Tyler Albanese), great grandson Andres Hernandez, sister Oralia Mora, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Many thanks and appreciation are extended to his providers who became family to us all and to Kindred Hospice who showed extreme professionalism and caring this past year.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Juan Jose Ochoa Sr., to the John Ochoa Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Del Mar College online at give.delmar.edu or sent to DMC Foundation, 101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, Tx. 78404.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M., Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. that same evening. Funeral service will be held at 11:30 A.M., Friday, June 4, 2021 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.