Joe Nieves: Husband-Father-Patriot

My father; Jose Antonio Nieves Jr, was no less than the greatest man. He was funny and wild. Calm and organized. Opinionated and had a way with words. A serious Alpha male. He touched the hearts of everyone he met. And as my family and I are grieving his friends are flocking and migrating towards us. Filling our hearts and minds with the good memories that they have with my Father. First and foremost his family. His Mother and Father Henrietta and TonySr. His sisters and brother. His aunts and uncles. His cousins and bestfriends. His Wife of 20 years and my Mother Bonnie and all his children. Strong stories of proud veterans he helped in his last days. Veterans that he knew in his service years. Life long stories from his friends in high school back in New York. Wild memories of his days with Rocky Horror buddies. Warm memories with his brothers ams sisters from our churches. Both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and The First Unitarian Universalist church. Funny times with his coworkers from his recent endeavors at Smokerz Paradize San Antonio and Smokes Tokes. And as always the testimonies of everyone he stood up for as a huge advocate in the NORML community. Through all of this and through these last three days I have come to learn that all of you made Joey who he was. Made him who I knew to be my father. You all molded him and mutually so he has molded you. So thank you. Thank you for being a part of his life and now in death being a much larger part. For being our family. For being our sisters and brothers. For being our aunts and uncles. Our cousins and parents. Our best friends and companions. Family sticks together no matter what and now that we have lost but not forgotten our strongest link I ask for your support in making our fathers Veteran Funeral everything that he deserves. Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.