Epifanio Joe De La Cruz Artiaga

Epifanio De La Cruz Arteaga (Artiaga) 86, aka Epi, joined the love of his life in heaven at the Genoa Care Center on December 12, 2017. Epifanio or “Joe” as he was affectionately known was born April 7, 1931 in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico and was the oldest of four children. Epifanio and his family lived on a farm of about 500 acres until his father passed away when he was 8. Due to hardships when he was about 11 years old Epifanio sold the only possession he had (his father’s rifle) and boarded a bus to America with his uncle. Once in America he was on his own as his uncle returned to Mexico. He supported himself by working in a vegetable packing plant, working as a waiter, ranch hand, as a professional boxer, and in the hotel industry In 1948. Epifanio met a slender brown eyed girl with long black hair named Julia Palacios when she was working in a tortilla factory near Brownsville, Texas and they were married on March 10, 1949 in Brownsville, Texas . They enjoyed their lives in Harlingen, Texas with their children until 1962 when they left and came to Ohio to pursue the American dream. Epifanio and Julia traveled with their children, working, until they settled in Rocky Ridge, Ohio. The children were taught to work early on and during their travels the family worked picking oranges and cotton in the south, cherries and tomatoes in the north, and other items in Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Michigan. When they settled in Ohio Epifanio worked doing paving and other jobs until he finally found a job at The Andersons in Maumee. He worked there for over 30 years until he retired in 1993. When the children were little Epifanio and Julia belonged to a church singing group. They liked to fish and would spend many days along the Portage and Toussaint River’s fishing and just enjoying the quiet and sunshine. He enjoyed spending time swimming with his children at Lake Erie in Port Clinton. Epifanio had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh with his stories. Epifanio was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Julia Palacios Artiaga, son Jesus Artiaga, 3 infant children and 1 great grandson. Survivors include his sons Juan (Ruth) Artiaga of Perrysburg, OH, Jose E. (best friend Geri Sondergeld)Artiaga Jr. of Weston, OH, Ricardo (Louann) Artiaga of Whitehouse, OH, Enrique Ricky (Judi) Artiaga of Oak Harbor, OH., Freddy (Rene) Artiaga of Toledo, OH., Alex (Mariana) Artiaga of Palm Harbor, FL., Thomas Artiaga of Toledo, OH., Paul Artiaga of Perrysburg, OH. Daughters Maria Artiaga of Toledo, OH., Aurelia (Larry) Brockman of Oroville, CA., Gloria (William) Bennett of Oak Harbor, OH., Isabel (Roger) Kleopfer of Holland, OH., Cristina (Mark) Kenski of Sandusky, OH., Angela (Jody) Henry of Mansfield, OH. 40 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren. Visitation will be on Friday, December 15, 2017 from 2-8 p.m. at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, Ohio. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Father Tim Ferris at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 16, 2017 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Oak Harbor beginning with prayers offered at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Clay Township Cemetery, Genoa, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.