Joseph “Joe” Gracia II

December 3, 1944-November 24, 2024

Joseph “Joe” Gracia II, 79, of Auburn, MI, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, November 24, 2024, surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer.

Joe was born on December 3, 1944, in Brownsville, TX to Christobal “Chris” Garcia and Andrea (Reyna) Becerra. He was a graduate from Hemlock High School in 1963. At the age of 18, he started as a UAW Local 539 Meat Cutter/Butcher and after 51 years of service, proudly retired at the age of 69.

Joe enjoyed family, hunting, fishing, yardwork, and classic car shows. A favorite hobby in which he found great enjoyment was bowling, where he held two perfect 300 games, a 298, and an 800 series in his archive. He was also a member of the St. Brigid of Kildare of Midland, where he enjoyed worshiping with his family. He was a huge fan of the Detroit Lions and thoroughly enjoyed everyone gathering around to watch the game on the big screen.

Joe will be deeply missed by his wife, Jaye (Griffith) Gracia; brother Jesse Becerra of Hemlock; his children Christinea (Jeffrey) Parsons of Midland and Joseph (Tricia) Gracia III of Hemlock; his stepchild Valerie (Jason) Bolf; his grandchildren Corrine Stover, Loretta Gracia, Joe (Adrea) Gracia, Jackie (Parsons) Martin, Michael Stover, and Brayden Gracia; his step-grandchildren Jordan Alexius, Courtney Sayan, and Bradley Sayan; his great grandchildren Autumn, Gabryella, Caiden, Grayson; his step-great grandchildren Emma, Eliana, Michael; great-great grandchild Aleksander; nephews Rick Guerra and Bill Theaker; nieces Georgette Becerra and Tina Cook; and several cousins.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; his former wife of 37 years Sharon (Kramer) Gracia; siblings Maria (Becerra) Guerra and Estella Becerra; and nieces Andrea Guerra and Yvonne (Guerra) Rundell.

A private burial for the family will be at Homer Township Cemetery on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 12 p.m. Friends of Joe’s may visit with the family from 2 to 5 p.m. for a Celebration of Life service on Saturday at the USW Local 12075 Union Hall (3510 James Savage Rd, Midland, MI 48642).

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to First State Home Health & Hospice Care in Saginaw, MI.