Joseph "Joe" Fagundes

Joseph “Joe” Machado Fagundes, IV was born November 25,1943 at Mercy Hospital in Merced to parents Joe and Virginia Fagundes, who were residents of Cressey. A walk down memory lane in the storied life of Joe Fagundes begins with a sick young boy who was never thought to live past the age of five. Equipped with a resilient nature, strong will, and an innate sense of humor, young Joseph beat the odds. Just as the nurses and doctors worked to nourish him back to health, he spent his life nurturing things and people to their full potential. Whether it was lending a sympathetic ear to a friend, saving a rusty antique vehicle from the dump, participating in efforts to help sick children, or coaching Turlock youth in football and life skills, Joe worked hard to shape the potential of all things near and dear. Modesty prevented him from admitting he was more than a just regular “Joe.” However, those who knew him and loved him would say he was one of a kind, and there will never be another “Joe” like Joe Fagundes. If family is the foundation that a great man stands upon, Joe had the best. He often said that if he were “half the man” his father, Joe Sr., was, then he would be a “good man.” Joe’s parents taught him the values that propelled his actions throughout his life, specifically the love of family and the importance of service to others and to his community. In 1953, at the age of 10, Joe moved to Turlock, and never left. As a boy, he lived on his parents’ dairy at 3937 S. Kilroy Rd. He attended 3rd through 8th grade at rural Tegner Elementary School, and always kept in touch with many of his classmates. During his elementary school years at Tegner, the rural schools in Turlock joined to form the Chatom Union School District. Joe was always proud to have been a part of the first Chatom School graduating class. Joe loved the social aspect of school and is often remembered for his funny jokes and antics. Joe truly enjoyed his years at Turlock High School from 1959-1963, and treasured his memories of participating in track and football, which included being coached by Joe Debely, Les Ratzlaff, and Don Odishoo. Joe’s memories were also highlighted by having personally known Principal John H. Pitman, as he was a regular visitor to his office! Joe continued to support the Turlock Bulldogs by hardly ever missing a Friday night football game, by serving on the selection committee to induct former athletes to the Turlock High School Hall of Fame, and by being a member of the Turlock Quarterback Club. Since high school graduation, Joe also served on the Class of ‘63 reunion committees several times. Joe’s service to the Turlock community began during his high school years, when he became a member of the Ports Auto Club, which held fundraisers to help sick children. After high school, Joe attended barber school and became a licensed barber in 1964. During this time, Joe was also a member of the Turlock JC’s (Turlock Junior Chamber of Commerce). Joe barbered in Turlock until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966. Joe served in Vietnam in 1967-68 in the First Infantry Division, notably referred to as “The Big Red One.” Joe received an Army Commendation Medal and was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon his honorable discharge from the army, Joe returned to Turlock in 1968 and resumed his occupation as a barber until 1971, when Joe made a change and started a dairy business at his folk’s property on Kilroy Road. In 1973, Joe became a dairy broker, which was his occupation for 47 years until his retirement in 2020. In the early 1980s, Joe’s love of community branched to Turlock Youth Football. Joe served TYF for 24 years, both as a director and a coach. In 2002, he received the Turlock Chamber of Commerce “Best of Turlock” Youth Involvement Award. In addition to serving the youth of TYF, Joe served as a director and a member of Turlock Historical Society. Joe was also one of the founding members of Fava Day, a charitable organization that raised money every May 9 for local children who were battling cancer from 1994-2019. In 2018, the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge recognized his contributions to Fava Day Kids by awarding him the George Washington Honor Medal. Joe’s hobbies through the years also included involvement in his community. For example, Joe was a first charter member of the Valley Tractor Pullers Association. In the early 1980s, Joe presided over their first meeting ever, which led to the creation of the organization. It must also be noted that Joe collected old rusty trucks, tractors and equipment from when he was a sophomore in high school until his passing. Four of his favorites made appearances under his business name, J.M. Fagundes and Associates, in local parades. Joe’s parade vehicles include the “Horse Car,” a 1922 Dodge, which has been a part of Turlock history and parades since the 1950s, a 1953 canned milk truck that was originally driven locally to pick up milk at dairies and deliver to creameries, a 1947 Dodge cab over, and a 1953 Dodge flat bed truck. Watching the excitement of children as they lined town streets waiting in anticipation for the bucking “Horse Car” was always a highlight for Joe. In the weeks preceding his passing, Joe was working hard to add to his parade fleet with a Grapes of Wrath style 1931 Model A that Joe baptized as the “Fagundes Family Cayucos Flyer.” Joe’s family always expected the unexpected when it came to Joe’s humor. Joe always enjoyed teasing his sister Diulinda, and she describes there was never a dull moment when they were growing-up. Joe’s wife, Regina, recalls a time when one of Joe’s wise cracks resulted in a playful mustard fight between the spouses. In their formative years, daughters Yvette and Theresa could count on Joe for stern advice peppered with witty analogies. The Fagundes girls had more nicknames than any kid in town. He was a fun daddy who wore a Cressey State Alumnus sweatshirt, and joked that he graduated with honors. Mundane moments turned into memories because he took the girls to the store wearing slippers, a tacky hat, and Halloween teeth or decided to order the family’s bulldog an ice-cream at the drive-through window. Once he was a VoVo, his granddaughters were in on the fun, too. Whether he was making up lyrics to songs or drawing silly pictures, they knew that when VoVo was around, belly-laughs followed. Although all grown up, when Therearen’tYou (Theresa) and Bisky (Yvette) needed their days brightened, they knew just who to call. It wouldn’t take long before Daddy would say something that made everything in the world okay again. Joe’s extended family and huge cadre of friends were precious to him. He held old memories near and dear to his heart, and loved to tell stories from his youth. In the present day, Joe's sense of humor and penchant for fun always created light-hearted moments that will be lasting memories for those who knew him. He always said, “Even in hard times, it’s important to chuckle.” Merry Christmas to that! No, there was nothing regular about Joe. But it was the regular moments of everyday life that he enjoyed the most. If you were to ask Joe about his dream vacation, he would have told you that he did not dream of going anywhere. In fact, if offered a free trip to any destination or the promise of coffee at the local restaurant with a long-time friend, he would have chosen time with a friend without hesitation. Turlock was Joe’s happy place, and he saw no sense in leaving, when he was already as happy as could be. His family, his friends, and his precious community held the keys to his heart. That’s no joke. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and Joe M. Fagundes, Sr. of Turlock. Joe is survived by his wife of 47 years, Regina, daughters Yvette Fagundes-Hall of Waterford, daughter Theresa Fagundes-Diener and husband, Justin, of Five Points, granddaughters Susannah Hall, Lillian Hall, and Rose Diener, as well as his sister Diulinda Daley and husband Jack of Surprise, Arizona. Joe also leaves behind many beloved nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, cousins, and of course, an empire of rusty tractors, trucks and cherished relics of the past. A visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2023 followed by a Celebration of Life from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock, CA 95380 in the Main Chapel. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 S. Walnut Rd., Turlock, CA 95380. Following the service, Joe will be laid to rest at Turlock Memorial Park. In honor of Fava Day Kids, Joe requested that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. You may visit st.jude.org or mail donations to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

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Joseph "Joe" Fagundes

November 25, 1943 - December 9, 2023