Joseph Alfaro

Joseph “Grandpa JoeJoe” Alfaro passed away at Holston Valley hospital after a brief illness. He was the proud and loving son of José de Jesus Alfaro and Irene DeGeorge Alfaro. Joseph was a native to Detroit but relocated to Tennessee to be with family after his retirement as a supervisor for the Detroit Water Department. He briefly attended Ohio State for race horse husbandry and loved horses. He was a graduate of Holy Redeemer in Detroit. He bravely served his country in the Korean War and was a proud veteran of the United States Army. 

Joey was a man who always did the right thing and he always did right by other people. He was passionate about caring for other humans and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He loved spending his time at the theatre with his granddaughters and he loved music and art with all of his heart. He loved his Detroit Teams and cheering them on from their worst to their best. He was the type of person who took in feral animals to keep them warm and he was a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s hospital. Joey was also extremely proud of his Mexican and Italian heritage and enjoyed researching his family’s history. He was passionate about the state of his country and passionate about politics. 

He was proceeded in death by the love of his life, his wife Donna and his parents, along with his half-brother Armando, and his brother Jorge, and Joseph is survived by his special granddaughters, Kristen and Jennifer Williams; His sister Emilie, his brother John, his cousin Anna Maria, his nephew Ben (Blair), his step-children Kimberly (Rob), Rochelle (Brian), Steve (Amanda), Melissa (Brion), and his grandchildren Jeremy (Casey), Elise (Jay), Leah, Jordan (Carper), Nicholas, Brody, Eason, and Buckley, and several great-grandchildren, all of whom called him “Grandpa Joe Joe.”

Many people who weren’t his family called him “Grandpa Joey” because he opened his arms and his home to everyone. He would help anyone and everyone he could and cared for his family deeply. He didn’t know a stranger. 

Joseph was an organ and tissue donor and saved lives through his passing and would implore others to do the same.

Arrangements will come at a future time. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital in his name.