Joseph John De Rosa, beloved son, brother and brother-in-law passed away in Bakersfield, CA on June 11, 2022 from cancer at the age of 64. He was born on April 15, 1958 to John and Frances De Rosa Jr and baptized in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jersey City, New Jersey.
He attended grammar school at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey where he served as an Altar Boy. He also played football and baseball for the Lake Hopatcong Little League.
Joe moved to China Lake, CA in August 1972. He attended Burroughs High School where he played football, baseball, and was a top-notch wrestler for Burroughs High School. He graduated from Burroughs High School in June 1976 and then went on to graduate from Cerro Coso Community College with his Associate of Arts Degree.
He pursued a career in the construction and woodworking field. He attended Mojave Contractor School where he received his Contractors License. He then went on to own and operate his own construction business; “J. D. Construction Company,” for several years where he remodeled and built new homes in Ridgecrest, CA. He later accepted a Construction Project Manager position for Kern Community College District in Bakersfield, CA. He managed the construction of multi-million-dollar facilities on the campuses of Bakersfield and Porterville.
He had many interests and hobbies which included: gardening (growing fruits, vegetables, and various trees), boating, fishing, building model airplanes, working on cars, playing Dominoes with his family and traveling internationally, especially to the Caribbean Islands. His love for animals over the years included: horses, birds, and dogs.
He was a member of the Indian Wells Gem and Mineral Society in Ridgecrest, CA where he enjoyed using his skills and the lapidary equipment to create a variety of lapidary items.
Joe is survived by his parents, John and Frances De Rosa Jr, brother-John De Rosa III, sister-Catherine (De Rosa) Mattox, sister and brother-in-law Fran (De Rosa) and spouse Bob Pegler, and aunt-Judith De Rosa.
Joe was a very kind and loving man. He will be sadly missed and forever in our hearts.