n Loving Memory of Jose Arturo “Joe” Rangel

May 19, 1950

Jose Arturo Rangel, lovingly known by many as “Joe,” “El Gavilan,” “Colonel,” and “Blood,” was a man whose life was defined by family, music, hard work, creativity, and love. To those who knew him best, Joe was much more than the names people called him. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a brother, a musician, a teacher, and a friend. Above all, he was a family man whose greatest happiness came from being surrounded by the people he loved.

Born on May 19, 1950, Joe was the eldest of nine children. From an early age, he learned the importance of hard work, responsibility, and family. Throughout his life, he was known as a man who could work with his hands and figure things out for himself. Whether he was building something, repairing something that was broken, or creating something from nothing, Joe took pride in his work and enjoyed passing that knowledge on to his children.

But if there was one thing that could tell the story of Joe’s life, it was music.

Joe’s love for music began when he was only eight years old, when he taught himself how to play the accordion. That young boy with an accordion would grow into a gifted musician who could play many different instruments. Of all the music he played throughout his life, Tejano music always held a special place in his heart.

His talent gave him the opportunity to travel, perform, and create memories that would last a lifetime. Throughout the years, Joe performed with Los Hermanos Garza, Grupo Preferencia, Jean Le-Grand, and Grupo Aguilar. His musical journey included appearances on the Johnny Canales Tejano Show and performances all over United States. Later, he continued traveling throughout South Texas with his own bands, Starr Y Rawhide and La Ralea.

Yet, for all the stages he performed on and all the places music took him, some of Joe’s most meaningful performances happened much closer to home.

His daughters, Peggy and Starr, became his singers, and Joe took great pride in teaching them songs and sharing his love of music with them. His son Joe Robert played bass alongside his father, while his son Jazz helped as a roadie and sound technician. Those moments were about much more than making music. They were a father sharing a piece of himself with his children and creating memories they would carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Joe and his wife, Marina, built a life and family together. They also raised Rossy as their daughter, giving her love, guidance, and encouragement throughout her life. Joe was proud to see her grow into the woman she is today and accomplish the tremendous achievement of becoming a college graduate with a master’s degree.

Family gatherings were especially important to Joe. He loved firing up the barbecue whenever everyone came together for birthdays, Dallas Cowboys games, holidays, and special occasions. For Joe, it was never simply about the food or the occasion. What mattered was looking around and seeing his children, grandchildren, siblings, and loved ones together.

Those are the memories his family will hold especially close—the smell of barbecue in the backyard, a Cowboys game playing, Tejano music filling the air, laughter coming from every direction, and Joe sitting proudly among the family he loved.

Joe also enjoyed rebuilding and restoring motor vehicles with his children. Together, they restored three vehicles over the years. Like music, those projects became more than a hobby. They were opportunities for a father and his children to work side by side, teach one another, laugh together, and create memories.

Joe was a loving father to Peggy, Erica, Starr, Rossy, Joe Robert, and Jazz. He shared many years of marriage and life with his wife, Marina, and the family they created together became one of his greatest accomplishments.

His legacy continued to grow through his 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Each generation became another part of the family story Joe helped create.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Isabel and Petra Rangel, and his beloved sisters, Diana Salas and Consuelo Hope Willson.

Joe’s family includes his daughter Peggy Rangel and her husband, Roberto Godina; his daughter Erica Rose Thompson and her husband, Mike Thompson; his daughter Starr Rangel Alvarez and her husband, Robert Alvarez; his daughter Rossy Estrada Mallen and her husband, Jose Mallen; his son Joe Robert and his common-law wife, Kayla Garza; and his son Jazz and his girlfriend, Jewel Bowden.

As the years passed, Joe had the blessing of watching his children grow from the little boys and girls he once taught and cared for into adults with families and lives of their own. Yet when everyone came home, something special remained. Different generations, different ages, and siblings traveling from different places would once again gather together.

There would be music.

There would be laughter.

There would be karaoke.

And there would be Joe, sitting proudly in his backyard, watching the family he helped build come together around him.

That is how his family will remember him.

They will remember him whenever an accordion begins to play or an old Tejano song brings back a memory. They will remember him while standing around a barbecue pit, working underneath the hood of a vehicle, watching a Cowboys game, or singing karaoke together. They will remember the lessons he taught them, the things he built with his hands, the music he shared from his heart, and the countless ordinary moments that now mean more than words can express.

Although Joe’s chair in the backyard may now be empty, the place he holds within his family never will be.

His hands helped build many things throughout his lifetime, but the greatest thing he helped build was a family filled with memories, music, and love.

His music will continue through his children.
His stories will continue through his grandchildren.
His memory will continue through his great-grandchildren.
And his love will remain with his family for generations to come.

Jose Arturo “Joe” Rangel will be deeply loved, greatly missed, and forever remembered.

May his music continue to play in the hearts of everyone who loved him.