Jose Esparza Tovar Sr.

Jose Esparza Tovar Sr., 85, of Austin, passed away Friday, June 16. Joe was born December 22, 1931 in Waelder to Pablo and Tomasa Esparza Tovar. He married Natividad Martinez on October 17, 1953 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gonzales. Joe was a member of San Jose Catholic Church in Austin.

Joe Tovar was born into a family that totaled 16 children in Waelder, Texas. He was raised on a farm and loved to fish and hunt with his friends. He was very familiar with the chores children commonly had to perform on the farm and he was content living off the fruits the family farm provided them through their hard work. Slaughtering a hog, processing several chickens, gathering eggs or tending to the family garden was just part of living off the land. In this age, most families lived and worked the same as the Tovar family, quite possibly with not as many mouths to feed, but most survived the times in the same way.

After marrying his sweetheart Natividad, they moved to Austin where Joe worked for L. East Produce Company, a job that he held for 10 years. Joe accepted a job at Capital Aggregates Company where he worked in an asphalt and ready mix plant for 30 years retiring as the plant operations foreman. The work ethic he learned as child was in part what helped him to be successful in the business and earn an Employee of the Year award.

Away from work Joe enjoyed working with his hands doing carpentry work around his house and taking the time to work with his sons and teach them carpentry skills of their own. Joe still enjoyed fishing as time permitted and sitting with his friends to talk and drink a beer or two while relaxing and enjoying each other’s companionship. After he retired he maintained a garden for a few years but the continued droughts of rain made the hard work less productive. Joe was the patriarch of a good family, he lived an example of honor, integrity, hard work and doing all things right, lessons his children took to heart and will always be grateful for the example he set for them. He was Grandpa Joe to his grandchildren and never shied away from helping grandma babysit. Certainly in life Joe may have said many times “Si vale la pena hacerlo, vale la pena hacerlo bien” and Joe saw that life was worth living and he lived it well.

Joe Tovar Sr., is survived by his wife of 63 years, Natividad Tovar of Austin, daughter, Norma Tovar of Austin, sons and daughters-in-law, Gilbert and Frances Tovar of Cedar Creek, Fred and Ennie Tovar of Austin, Edward Tovar of Kyle, Andrew and Lisa Tovar of Buda, Manuel and Connie Tovar of Austin, Joe, Jr. and Angie Tovar of Pflugerville, sisters and brothers-in-law, Clara and Frank Rosas of Stafford, Maria and Pablo Barrera of Pasadena, brothers and sister-in-law, Ben and Albina Tovar of Waelder and Nicholas Tovar of Waelder, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, Angelita Tovar, sisters, Fabiana Herrera, Juana Soza, brother, Isabel, Joaquin, Victor, Evaristo, Jacinto, Fabian, Pablo, Jr., Guadalupe and infant Tovar twins.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 21 in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Waelder with Fr. Paul Raaz officiating. Interment will follow in Waelder Community Cemetery Association. Pallbearers: Gilbert Tovar, Jr., Michael Tovar, Joshua Tovar, Zachary Tovar, John Sebastian and Herman Canales. Honorary pallbearers: Valerie Castro, Ashley Tovar, and Angela Tovar. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday evening in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or Waelder Community Cemetery Association. Friends may sign the guestbook by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.