Joseph Fredrick Reis

Joseph “Joe” Fredrick Reis passed away at his home in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 at 2:00am at the age of 94 years old. Joe is predeceased by his father, John Machado Reis, his mother Mary Simas Reis, his first wife Virginia Reis his brothers John, Eddie and Frank Reis. He will be interred near the graves of his mother and father, Maria “Mary” Machado Simas Reis and John Machado Reis, and his paternal grandparents Maria “Mary” da Terra Reiz and Joze “Joseph” Machado dos Reiz. Joe is lovingly remembered by his 2nd wife Phoebe Reis, his children Rick and Gary Reis, Dean Walker and Philip Milam. His grandchildren Kara Pacheco, Kassie Tafoya, Conner and Forrest Walker. Great grandchildren, Darcy Tafoya and Presley Pacheco. Joe was born near Morro Bay California on January 13th, 1925. Joe grew up on dairy farms between Cambria and Santa Maria. Served in the US Army from 1943 until 1949 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant First Class. Joe went on working as a butcher for Williams Brothers markets and even his own shop. He also had his own Service Master and ServPro franchises. Joe eventually purchased his store called Nearly New Furniture which he ran for 30 years till he retired. Joe enjoyed trap shooting, hunting and most of all his ranch. The Celebration of life will be held at the Old Mission Cemetery, 101 Bridge St., San Luis Obispo, California on October the 21st, 2019 at 11:00 am with Deacon Chuck Roeder officiating. Interment to follow at same location following the Celebration of Life. A reception will take place at the Silver City mobile home park clubhouse following the interment at 3860 S.Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA. Flowers may be sent to Reis Family Mortuary at 991 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Phone (805) 544-7400 Condolences for the family may be offered online at www.reisfamilymortuary.net under “Tributes” 2nd obituary addition: The grandson of Portuguese immigrants from Sao Jorge and Pico in the Azores Islands, Joseph “Joe” Frederick Reis was a second generation native of San Luis Obispo. Born the next to the youngest of 5 siblings in 1925 on the Reis family dairy ranch on Little Morro Creek Road in Morro Bay, with the exception of his military service, he lived almost his entire life in the county. He was very proud of his Portuguese ancestry: and was related to the Simas, Machado, Silveira, Silva, Roza, Cardoza, Villa, Brebes and Soares and other extended Portuguese families of San Luis Obispo. His family left the Morro Bay dairy farm and moved to Nipomo around 1935 so his father John could do more general farming. He met his future wife Virginia May Wonsley at a dance at Arroyo Grande High School and was married to her on January XX, 1943 at the Catholic Church in Nipomo. He was 17 and she was 15. Joe then enlisted voluntarily in the US Army on his 18th birthday January 13, 1943 in Santa Maria. Military Service: • WWII US Army Decorated Veteran 1943-1949 • Rank of Staff Sergeant, Army Rangers • Rifle Range Instructor • Mess Hall Cook and Administrator Work History: • After his military discharge in 1949, Joe worked as both a meat cutter and helped his father John on their relocated dairy farm in Sacramento County for several years before returning to San Luis Obispo. It was while in Sacramento that his eldest son Rick was born in 1951. • He then worked as a meat cutter for Berkemeyer Meat Market and Williams Brothers Markets in San Luis Obispo from 1951-1965, when his youngest son Gary was born in 1955. • He operated a franchise of ServiceMaster Cleaning in San Luis Obispo from 1965-1968 with the help of his then very young sons Rick and Gary. • He opened his own used furniture business, Nearly New Furniture at 1301 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo from 1968 to 2000, again with the help of his sons Rick and Gary, his second wife Phoebe Milam Reis and his cousin Bobbi Machado Mares. • He continued to do independent retail at the Nipomo Swap Meets from 2000 to his retirement in 2005. After he and Virginia divorced in 1970, Joe married Phoebe J. Milam Reis in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 26, 1971. Joe was an avid hunter and distinguished marksman throughout his life. He enjoyed deer and wild pig hunting. He was an expert in all types of firearms. He participated in many rifle and trap shooting contests throughout the state, winning numerous trophies, including a North America championship in Mexico, in the 1960s. He was also a championship bowler. Joe owned 2 cattle ranches in San Luis Obispo and southern Monterey counties, where he ran cow-calf operations of Polled Hereford cattle. He was a member of the BPOE Elks #322 of San Luis Obispo, and the IDES Portuguese Society. __________________________________________________ Joe is survived by: his sons, Richard “Rick” Allen Reis (and wife Patricia “Patty” Cowan Reis) of San Luis Obispo and Gary Jonathan Reis of San Luis Obispo; his second wife, Phoebe J. Milam Reis of San Luis Obispo; and her sons Dean Walker and Philip Milam of San Luis Obispo, and close cousin Robert Dye. Joe was preceded in death by: his first wife, Virginia May Wonsley Reis of San Luis Obispo; his mother and father, Maria “Mary” Machado Simas Reis and John Machado Reis of Santa Maria; his brothers: John “Johnnie” William Reis, Frederick Reis, Edward Reis, and Frank Gerald Reis; his daughter-in-law, Deborah Irene Tupac-Yupanqui Reis of San Luis Obispo; his grandparents, Maria “Mary” Emilia Rosa da Terra Reiz and Joze “Joseph” “Joe” Machado dos Reiz of Santa Maria; and his sisters-in-law Evelyn Lavera Wonsley Calminari Harling and Jacqueline Ruth Wonsley of San Luis Obispo. Services are being handled by Reis Family Mortuary Funeral Home, 991 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 805-544-7400. Full Military Funeral: Central Coast Leathernecks. A Celebration of Life and Graveside services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2019, at the Old Mission Catholic Cemetery, 101 Bridge Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 805-541-0584, Deacon Chuck M. Roeder, officiating. A reception will follow immediately afterwards at the Silver City Mobile Home Park Clubhouse at 3860 South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Joseph Fredrick Reis

January 13, 1925 - October 9, 2019