Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying this beautiful day.
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Our Fire Department held its monthly meeting last Thursday in Valley Home. The meeting was very well attended … with several of our firefighters and others in attendance. We were happy to see and hear from our Modesto Fire Chief Kevin Wise. It was an interesting meeting, to say the least. I hope those of you who weren’t able to make it to this meeting will try to come to next month’s meeting … it will be held in Knights Ferry. We look forward with much hope during the next few months. It is with such great pride that we recognize the top-of-the-line equipment, engines, and fire apparatus that our Fire Department sends on each call.
Each engine is fully staffed with a highly trained and extremely knowledgeable crew.
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This week, I share the sad news of the passing of one of our most hard-working citizens, Joe Perez. Joe was very instrumental in making our Valley Home Community Park a reality. Many years ago, Kathy Shepherd and our Valley Home 4-H undertook the huge task of saving the land where our Community Center was located from being sold for back taxes. Soon it was discovered that our Community Center could not be saved and would have to be demolished … it was heartbreaking for our community. Joe always was very involved in our community and also served on our Valley Home Municipal Advisory Council in 2007. Joe was well known for being very knowledgeable and always willing to help. As such, Tammie Smith and Debbie Locker on behalf of our community approached Joe and asked him to serve on the committee … Joe soon took on a very important role. He became the Project Manager for the park project. He and good friend Glenn Burghardt and several other community members would work side by side the next few years to bring our beautiful park to reality. Some of those many names in the very early days, that come to my mind right now are: Elsie and Augie Martin and family, Mike and Melinda Tozzi, Dr. Henry and Sonja Jones, Steve and Marina Knudsen, Sharon, Tony and Tyler Furtado. I also remember the Chrisman family, 4-Her Cheyenne Chrisman served as a youth member on our Park Board. I have a special memory of Jeff bringing his push mower and mowing the park … I remember my husband Richard in those early days loading our mower in the cattle trailer and taking our very, very young grandsons Cody and Cooper down to mow the park. Kathy Byrhni, Melisa Carpenter and Vicki Dickens were always there to help. Another sweet memory would be our homemade pie nights. Several folks, including Donnie Taro, his good friend Linnie (my sister), his mom Claire and his dad Tony would each bring a homemade pie to share during those early years. We would sit together at the park and just enjoy each other’s company. Many folks helped Joe make our park a reality … I could not possibly name everyone here who has worked so hard over the years. I am sure Joe would want to say a huge “Thank You” to every single one of you! Our beautiful park that Joe and his friends worked so hard on was dedicated on June 18th, 2011. Our then-Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O’Brien and our Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department including then-Sheriff Adam Christianson both would be present and speak at our Dedication Ceremony. Mrs. Laura Burghardt would receive a beautiful hand-picked bouquet of spring flowers in appreciation for all she had done for Valley Home. Joe and his beautiful wife Linda would receive a permanent park plaque in appreciation for their hard work. Many years later I remember a community yard sale to raise money for the park; we actually sold two llamas, donated by Kristi Short. Channel 31 came out and covered our yard sale. Joe was always so thankful to our young people who spent the night at the park that night to watch over our yard sale goods: Austin Dickens, Garrett Byrhni and Jordan McCain.
Joe always loved our community and he especially loved our beautiful little Valley Home Community Park. Thank you, Joe and Linda Perez for all you have done for Valley Home.
Our friend and neighbor Joe Perez was born on June 1, 1937 and passed from this life on June 15, 2025.
Joe is survived by his loving wife Linda Perez, his sisters Mary Ortega, Fremont; Chonita Uyehara, San Jose; brother John Perez, Fremont; his daughter, Linda Noord, Hillsdale, Illinois; his son, Joseph M Perez, Fair Oaks; granddaughter, Patty Demmin, Bartonville, Illinois; and granddaughter, Savannah Cavan, North Highlands.
Joe lived in Oakdale about 30 years. He worked as a Supervisor at Bordon Chemical, Leslie Salt/Cargill (Bay Area) and a short time for Cal Almond (Hughson)
He was a volunteer for the Oakdale Police Department CAPS Program for nine years.
He played golf occasionally with some of his old high school buddies. Joe’s biggest passion always remained the love he had for the park and his community. Joe had Alzheimer’s the last years of his life and passed away from complications.
No Services are planned.
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As always you may reach me at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone or text at 209-985-5233.
Until next time, “Happy Trails to each of you!”
