FORDYCE — Joseph C. P. Alvarez, 91, Fordyce, died March 2, 2023, at the Norfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk.

Mass of Christian Burial was March 7 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Fordyce, with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Burial was at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Fordyce. Visitation and a vigil service were Monday, at church. Visitation continued one hour prior to services Tuesday. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington. Services were also livestreamed at www. facebook.com/WintzRay/live. Pallbearers were Daniel Wiebelhaus Jr., Benjamin Wiebelhaus, Debby Slahck, Tony Vogt, Jeanine Empfield and Nancy Babe. Joseph Cruz Paul was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Benjamin and Sylvia (Padilla) Alvarez. He grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and went to St. Joseph Grade School, Sioux City, and graduated from Trinity High School, Sioux City. Joseph had a career in the U. S. Air Force serving his country from Sept. 21, 1950Feb. 28, 1971, working as a computer systems specialist. Joe retired from the Air Force and went to Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska Omaha for four years. Joe married Heather Redmill Feb. 19, 1959, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He moved to Fordyce in the early 1980s in order to care for his mother, Sylvia. Joseph volunteered at West Catholic Elementary, Fordyce, teaching a computer class.

Joe loved to read, work on computers, photography, smoking cigars, and feeding the birds and squirrels. Joe also collected stamps from all over the world. Joe had a big heart and will be missed greatly.

Joseph is survived by two sisters, Mary Wiebelhaus, Fordyce, and Ramona Vogt, Lenexa, Kan.; many nieces, nephews and cousins; an adopted son, Christopher Alvarez, England; and grandson, Stephan Cruz Alvarez.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Heather; parents, Benjamin and Sylvia Alvarez; two brothers, Trino and Jesse Alvarez; niece, Francine Wolff; nephews, John Wiebelhaus and Larry Lee Vogt; brothers-in-law, Daniel Wiebelhaus and Larry Vogt; and sister-in-law, Shirley Alvarez.