Jose Ismael Alfaro (Joe) of Franklin, Tennessee passed away on July 3, 2026 at the age of 84 at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee.

Jose was born in Crystal City, Texas to Franciso Alfaro and Leonarda Herrera Alfaro on August 3, 1941. He went to school in Crstal City, Texas and later attended Willow Glen Senior High School in San Jose, California. He graduated from Mar Vista Adult School in Imperial Beach, California.

He married Joan Marie Jespersen on December 28, 1971 at Leo’s Church in San Jose, California. He attended San Jose City College at night and obtained an AA degree in Business. In 1960, he entered the National Guard 159th Infantry with Rank of PVTE-1. Later that year, he enlisted in the US Navy serving from 1960-1964 during the Vietnam Era. He attended Boat Coxswain course in 1961 but became a signalman second class. His Rank was E-5 SM2, later he served in the Naval Reserve until July of 1966. During that time, he had several odd jobs including Real Estate, bookkeeping and construction. In 1966, Jose began working at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital. He held several positions including nursing assistant, housekeeping, accounting clerk, and claims clerk. He achieved the rank of GS5-7 when he retired in 1978.

In 1978, we moved to Memphis, TN where Joe worked at several odd jobs, including welder’s helper and remodeling contractor. After one year, we moved to Olive Branch, Mississippi where he took up farming and organic gardening. In 1983, we moved to Petersburg, TN where he farmed, managed our rental properties and worked several partime jobs including Pizza Hut, Petersburg School Cafeteria, Relief US Post Office Rural Route Carrier from 1984-1987 and counselors aide at awakenings Recovery program at Methodist Hospital in Winchester, Tennessee.

In 1997 we moved to Rock Island, TN where he continued farming, organic gardening and managing our rental properties.

He be long to the following organizations: Member of the California Realtors from 1965-1966, member of the Bobby Kennedy Election committee in San Franciso Bay Area and Santa Clara County in 1967 member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society in Sunnyvale, California from 1967-1978, Member of cursilles De Christiandad from 1974-1980 in San Diego, California, Lifetime member of the NRA, charter founder of the second amendment task force. He was also an Honorary Life member of both the 3rd and 4th degrees of the Knights of Columbus held several postions including warden, financial secretary, and deputy Grand Knight while in California.

He was an Amway distributor from 1972-1978. He was an officer in the Mexican American Cultural Committee from 1977-1978 in Palo Alto, California, member of the East Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce from 1977-1978, member of the American G.I. forum in Memphis, TN from 1978-1980, member of the Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge in 1982, member of Al Menah Temple Shriners and held the office of Sargent of Arms in 1985, member of the York Rites in 1987, member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Parish Council in Fayetteville, Tennessee.

He received awards for: Knight of the month awards in 1972, 1975 and 1976, certificate of Merit in 1975 from the Knights of Colombus and the certificate of commendation from the Knight of Columbus. He received the superior service award from the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

He had several business ventures including Amway distributorship, Los Burritos fast food Restaurant partnership, real estate investments in Rental homes in California, Neveda and Tennessee and farming.

Jose was preceded in death by Melecio Alfaro and Benita Palamo Alfaro, grandparents; Franciso Alfaro, Sr. and Leonarda Herrera Alfaro, parents; Franciso Alfaro, Jr., brother and his wife Rebecca Cadriel Alfaro; Gilbert Alfaro, brother; Rosario Alfaro, sister; Corina Cazares, great niece and Howard and Lorraine Schwanebeck Jespersen, his in-laws.

He is survived by his wife Joan Jesepersen Alfaro, Dolores Alfaro Segovia, sister; George Alfaro and Alec Alfaro, nephews, Glenda Martinez and Gina Alfaro Canez, nieces and her husband Ronnie Canez, Raymond Murillo, grandnephew DeVean Cazares, great grand niece and brothers and sisters -in -law, George Fake and Sandra Jesperson Fake, Kevin Ike and Carol Jespersen Ike, Paul Sommo and Sue Jespersen Sommo, nephew Duane Jespersen Thomas and his wife Kristin Thomas and niece Emma Ike.

Jose (Joe’s) memorial service is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and will be held at St. Michael Academy on Nolensville Road, Nolensville, Tennessee on August 1, 2026 from 1:00PM until 4:00PM. Memorials may be given to: National Rifle Association (NRA), 11250 Waple Mill Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030; Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002; Judicial Watch 425 Third Street SW, suite 800, Washington D.C. 20024; The Weston A. Price Foundation, PMB 106-380,4200 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington D.C. 20016, Covenant House, 461 Ace Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001, Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 1525 Ranson, West Virginia 25438.

The Family of Jose I. Alfaro wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Sherman, the hospitalist, all the nurses especially those in the ICU at Williamson Medical Center. Our friends Kathy and James Gray, The Knights of Columbus and our fellow parishioners from Mother Teresa Catholic Church who came to the hospital, made telephone calls and prayed for Jose and Joan. Thanks also to the hospital chaplain and the ministers of the Eucharist from St. Phillips Catholic Church. A special thanks to Father Mark Simpson who performed Last Rites and offered prayers and support to both of us.