Joe G. Sanchez passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2014 after a long illness. Joe was born on March 24, 1932 in Lockhart. In 1949, his family moved to San Marcos. In 1950, he married Mary Vasquez in Gonzales. He worked for Coca Cola in New Braunfels and then at Hale Specialties in Shiner until 1965 when he was hired as a machinist at Tex Tan Welhausen in Yoakum. In 1967, he moved permanently to Cuero. He was eventually promoted to the foreman and assistant superintendent positions until 1973 when he was named superintendent of the Tex Tan factory in Cuero. In 1976, Joe was transferred back to Yoakum to head the expanded leather goods factory. He made the daily commute on his Suzuki 650 a great deal of the time and retired from Tex Tan when the factory closed in Yoakum. Joe remarried Guadalupe Aguillar in 1983 in Cuero.

Joe was an avid golfer until the onset of his illness. He also was a long time fan of the Gobblers and never missed a game, rain or shine, home or away, during the 70s and 80s.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Lupe Sanchez, and her children, Laurie Corona, Rudy Osegueda, Michael Osegueda and Vicki Rodriquez and his brother, Raul Sanchez (Tillie). Joe is also survived by daughters, Maria Ybarra (Jim), Carmen Trojanowski (Alan); sons, Michael G. Sanchez (Mary Beth), James L. Sanchez (Natasha) and Mark A. Sanchez; and grandchildren, David, Adam, AJ, Jamie and Megan.

Joe is preceded in death by his son, Joseph R. Sanchez; parents, Simon and Juanita Sanchez; sister, Rosa Perez; and brothers, Baltazar Sanchez and Herbert Sanchez.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 6 pm at Freund Funeral Home in Cuero. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014, 10 a.m., at St. Michaels Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Cuero.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.