It is with great sadness that the family of Jose Valentin Cruz Sr., announces his unexpected passing, on October 10, 2018 from a heart attack. Holding his brother's hand, Jose "Joe" Cruz, died praising God moments before passing away. A rosary service will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. followed by mass at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Luke's Catholic Church, with Father Gregory Okafor officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, Arizona.

Joe's humble beginning started on August 30, 1955, the son of hardworking Mexican immigrants Valentin Castro Cruz and Amelia Nieblas Cruz—Joe grew up with 7 brothers and 1 sister and together with their determination and love for one another, slowly build their own home brick by brick in Pirtleville, AZ. Till this day, the whole family made up of over 100 nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews gather every Christmas.

Joe was also a talented musician and performed in local popular bands such as Pueblo, La Familia, and Sabor Latino in Douglas, AZ. While performing with these bands, he was able to travel and open for award winning Tejano artists Little Joe, Jimmy Edwards, Brown Express, Michael Salgado, and Tierra Tejana.

After serving 18 years as a Correctional Officer at the Arizona Department of Corrections, Joe's priority was to help pay for his children's college education. In 2003, after suffering a heart attack while on duty, Joe found a higher calling that brought him closer to God. Prior to his retirement, his brother Juan Nieblas, Cruz, tragically died on the line of duty on December 9, 1998. Joe's solace was the Church and his family. Joe expressed for years how forever grateful he was to the community for their sincere love, generosity, and profound sympathies—that is why Joe made himself available to the Church and was ready to serve the community at a moment's notice.

Joe could be found above the pillars at the Immaculate Catholic Church every Sunday playing lead and/or bass guitar. In addition, Joe devoted hours to the church spending his weekends performing at baptisms, first holy communions, confirmations, weddings, funerals, and other religious ceremonies. The Church and community could always count on Joe to perform and he would do so dressed to impressed and carrying a heavy guitar case. Joe would also sneak away from family festivities every Christmas Eve before 11:00 p.m. to perform at Christmas mass. His children would joke that their father attended mass more times than the priest!

Joe was also the life of the party at family gatherings and would spend hours setting up big speakers to ensure professional sound quality for all-night Karaoke singing parties. Joe to his nieces and nephews, his favorite saying when he was startled was, "Ay Ama."  Joe lived to attend the many graduations, weddings, and sports games of his nieces and nephews and would spend hours on the phone with his daughter Lynda in New York catching her up on family events.

Joe viewed life as a precious miracle and was so grateful to God when in 2011 his brother, Armando Nieblas Cruz, heroically arrested a dangerous suspect while seriously wounded in a gun battle. It was a necklace of Saint Michael that Armando was wearing which allowed the bullet to ricochet from his neck sparing his life. Most recently, Joe was able to celebrate with his siblings as his brother, Carlos Nieblas Cruz, was honored for serving 32 years in law enforcement. Joe was especially very proud to recently discover that when tallied, the Cruz family have built a legacy of over 200 years serving the public in law enforcement and military.

Joe was also a proud grandfather to 3-year-old, Dominic Christopher Cruz Rivera, and lived for his grandson. Joe's heart condition limited his physical activity, but he would dance and jump just to make Dominic laugh. They were uniquely inseparable and at family gatherings, people would beam with love hearing Dominic repeat, "Tata, Tata, Tata." Dominic wouldn't go anywhere without his Tata.

Joe was survived by his children Michael Slate Cruz, Lynda Cruz, Jose V. Cruz Jr., and Korin Cruz. Joe had one grandson, 3-year-old, Dominic Cruz Rivera who was his pride and joy. Joe was proceeded in death by his parents Valentin and Amelia Cruz, his brother Juan Nieblas Cruz.  He was survived by his siblings, Francisco (Emma) Cruz, Richard Cruz, Leandro Cruz, Jesus Cruz, Amelia (Javier) Fimbres, Carlos (Lydia) Cruz, and Armando (Veronica) Cruz. Honorary Pallbearers are Jose V. Cruz, Jr., Dominic Cruz Rivera, Frank Cruz Sr., Frank Cruz Jr., Richard Cruz, Leandro Cruz, Jesus Cruz, Carlos Cruz Sr., Carlos Cruz Jr., Armando Cruz, Sr., and Amelia Cruz Fimbres. Pallbearers Michael Slate Cruz, Christopher Cruz, Alex Mendoza, Juan Cruz Jr., Armando Cruz Jr., and Alejandro V. Cruz.