Joseph Filice
Obituary
Joseph "Farmer Joe" Filice, 87, passed peacefully in the family home built by his grandparents
in Gilroy, CA, on October 31, 2022. He was born in Gilroy on December 30, 1934 to Louise and
Pascuale Filice.
Joe is survived by his son Mark (Nicole) Filice; daughters Wendy Filice, Nanette Filice, and
Jeannie (Ryan) Filice-Hollar; grandchildren Jeremy (Kailyn) Strametz, Cheyenne (Steve)
Caspary, Caitlin (Isaiah) Madolora, Riley Filice-Hollar, Joshua Filice-Hollar, Siena Filice,
Sommer Filice, and Sophia Filice; great grandchildren Emma, Elijah, Noah, and Chloe Strametz
and Layla Madolora; niece and nephew Rosalind and Tony; and former wife Nancy. Joe was
preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rosemary, his aunt Teresa, and other loved ones.
Joe grew up working on the family farm and attended Gilroy High School, where he played
Mustang football and cultivated a lifelong love of sports. Later in life, he enjoyed the opportunity
to watch his children and grandchildren play the sports he loved and cheer them on. After
graduating in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord where he became skilled in
bookkeeping - a skill that he carried with him for the rest of his life as he took great pride in
ensuring that his checkbooks were balanced down to the penny. Not as much pride, however,
as he took in the four Gilroy Bowl single titles he won.
A "Joe" of all trades, Farmer Joe became Businessman Joe in 1965 when he took his love of
jamoca almond fudge and German chocolate cake ice cream to a whole new level and bought a
Baskin Robbins ice cream shop in Santa Cruz. Businessman Joe turned into Cabinetmaker Joe,
and then Retired Joe. Retired Joe loved walking the creek on his property, 49er football, talking
about cars, and being "Nanu" to his grandkids.
Joe was a faithful Christian who looked forward to worshiping with his church family every
Sunday - raising his hands to praise Jesus. He shared his faith and love for God with all he
came in contact with. He was loved by many and though he will be deeply missed his family
takes great comfort in knowing that he is now home with Father God as he so longed to be.
Published in Gilroy Dispatch · November 8, 2022