Joseph Nelson Sagaser passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 in Fresno, California. Joe was born on 27 May 1931 in Tulare, California to Alvin Nelson Sagaser and Sadie Mae Dodds. On 25 June 1955, Joe married the love of his life, Dorothy A. Gunderson in Van Nuys, California and after 61 years of marriage, she nursed him through his final days. Rare is the devotion they shared. Joe is also survived by his children Joseph C. Sagaser, his wife Colleen and their three sons Mathew, Daniel, Jacob and his wife Kim. Jacob and Kim blessed Joe with a great-granddaughter; Hailey. He is also survived by his daughters Lisa Sagaser, Kim and her husband John Tanksley and their children John and Katherine. Joe continued a legacy of pioneers that were some of the first immigrants to North America and in the first waves of settlers to the American West; hard working farmers, ranchers, military, merchants and inventors. He was raised during the Great Depression in the Central Valley of California and with his parents and five siblings, cleared virgin land and established a family farm along the banks of the Kings River in Laton. Life was not easy but as a family they persevered. Joe went on to graduate with honors from the University of California Davis with a degree in Entomology and led a distinguished career as a researcher; developing and testing pest control techniques for agricultural crops in California. His work ethic, ingenuity and character garnered him much respect in the agricultural community that continued long after his retirement. Joe had an unwavering love of God and family and instilled in them all the importance of hard work, education, character and integrity. Writer Clarence Kelland described Joe perfectly when he wrote, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” Joseph Sagaser came from a long line of strong, pioneering people of character and created an exemplary legacy of his own. The example he set with his life will continue on in the following generations. He will be missed. A grave-side memorial to honor his memory, will be held at 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Tipton Cemetery; located off of highway 99 at 10395 Avenue 144 in Tipton, California.

Published in Hanford Sentinel December 11, 2015