Jose F Blancaflor's Obituary
Born in 1933, Jose Francisco Blancaflor spent his childhood in Japanese occupied Philippines. During this occupation, his father was killed by Japanese soldiers, near his home Manila, Philippines.
Once the US liberated the Philippines, Jose then worked as many jobs as possible with US soldiers in order to make money to help support the family (Mother Juanita Blancaflor, older sister Rosita Blancaflor (Later Rosita Enriquez), and older brother Leoncio Blancaflor).
One such job was an opportunity to travel to Guam to help build the Guam Airfield for the US military at around the age of 16. While performing this job, Jose signed up to become a private in the US Army as the USA needed soldiers for their next campaign in Korea.
Jose served in the US Army Infantry division in the Korean and Vietnam wars with multiple deployments.
He reached the rank of Master Sergeant before retirement in 1976 and also attained several medals including three Purple Hearts for injury in combat, the Bronze Star for valor and bravery during combat, and the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
Jose (Joe) Blancaflor married three times. With his first wife, Pilar, he had 2 beautiful daughters: Carla Jean Blancaflor (now Nagata) and Carol Ann Blancaflor. Carla and Carol are very close to this day. Carla married Carl Nagata and had three sons: Kenneth Nagata, Brian Nagata, and Matthew Nagata.
In his second marriage, Jose had two boys with wife Gudrun. Hermann Jose Blancaflor and Erich Leoncio Blancaflor. Hermann married his wife Patricia and they have had one son together, Drake Blancaflor.
Jose Blancaflor married his perfect match in 1992. Jose leaves behind Amelita (Amy) Blancaflor wife of 25 years. All of Jose's children love Amy very much and communicate that love to her.
Jose Francisco Blancaflor lived a full life. His decorated past in the US Army, his dedicated loyalty towards his wife and children and his relentless encouragement towards others were his way of life.
Everyone that had been exposed to Jose Blancaflor understood that he was an amazing, generous, hardcore, patriotic and loving man that blessed others with his big expectations and his way of life.
In the end of his life, Joe battled cancer twice (and was ready to battle it for a third time), and had 4 strokes (two of which caused bleeding in his brain). The last stroke he had was on Sunday, August 27th, 2017 of which he never did wake up from. Joe survived 7 days in after that final stroke. That was enough time for his friends and family to come to peace with his eventual passing.
Jose is of Catholic faith and we believe that when he died on Sunday, September 3rd 2017, he went to be with God in Heaven.
Jose's body will be laid to rest at Mountain View Memorial Park on Thursday, September 7th, 2017. Services start at 1:00 PM and end at 4:00 PM.
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