Joe Furno
March 17, 1930 – April 29, 2018
By Jackie Urquijo
My grandfather Joe Furno was born March 17, 1930, in Meadville, PA., an Italian guy born on an Irish holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. Grandpa Joe’s parents, Rafael and Josephine, immigrated from Italy to the United States to raise a family. They had three kids, Grandpa Joe, Aunt Mary and Uncle Albert. Grandpa loved both his brother and sister dearly. Family was very near and dear to him. One of the many things Grandpa Joe showed us all was that no matter what, your family is your family, first and always.
At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was so proud to have served his country. He spoke of his military service as one of his greatest lifetime achievements. In 1951 my grandfather achieved another great lifetime accomplishment, and that was finding his one true love, our grandmother, Velma. During his last days with us, I asked Grandpa, “So how did you meet Grandma”? And he said “Oh man, was she a beauty! She married me because of all the stripes on my uniform.” He said, “I knew when I met her, she was the one… it cost me a $2 spaghetti dinner and all of my Italian charm to win her heart.” He then said, “I brought her home to Mom and Pop and they loved her too. Pop said, ‘Well Joe, why so tall’ ”? Grandpa Joe said, “Well, so I can have taller kids”. He loved my grandmother dearly and expressed that to us over and over again as he approached his final days with us.
My grandparents married in 1952 and made their way from the east coast to Arizona where Grandpa took a job with Hughes Aircraft, working there for over 30 years. During that time, they built an amazing life together, raising four children, Ralph, Patty, Jane and Joe.
After retiring in 1986, my grandparents moved to Elgin. Grandpa Joe was devoted to his new community. Over the years, he dedicated himself to helping others through his active service on the Sulphur Springs Board, as Commander of Sonoita’s American Legion, Vice President of the Patagonia Food Bank, and president of the Patagonia Senior Center. Because of Grandpa Joe’s many contributions to the community, he was proudly named the Grand Marshal for Patagonia’s 4th of July parade, as well as Citizen of the Year.
Countless people, from Nogales to Wilcox, became good friends with Grandpa Joe. He loved telling stories, sharing a good laugh and, if he really liked you, he invited you over for a dish of pasta.
Everyone that knew my grandfather, knows he always wore a big smile on his face; whether he had a full set of good teeth or not, he would still smile. My grandfather left this world still ‘cutt’n up’ with people, as my grandmother would say. His last few days he was still telling jokes, clean ones and not so clean ones, to all of us. He was a beautiful soul and spirit and we all loved to be around him. The greatest assets he gave to us are our sense of humor, our big smiles, kindness to all and our love and devotion to family.
I asked Grandpa, “Do you have any special requests after you leave us?” He said, “Well Jackie, I’ve lived a pretty good life, and I’ve had a pretty good run, so just ask everyone to have a beer for me.”