Joe Donald Holden

Joe Holden, 58, of Lakeside, CA, died June 26, 2011 after a year of battling pancreatic cancer. He was born December 19, 1952 in Bakersfield, CA, the youngest of seven children by the late Charley Holden and Juanita Holden. Joe is survived by his loving family: wife, Susan Holden, 3 children, Joseph Holden, Amanda Holden and Laura Johnson, 3 grandchildren, sister Marie Zarte, brother Charles Holden and a large, close extended family.

Joe grew up in the Clairemont area and was active in football and Key Club at Madison High School, class of '71. It was there he met his wife, Sue. Although they were just friends, they started dating after high school. They were married June 8, 1974 and just celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary. Joe and Sue spent most of their married life in San Diego County, and one year living in Oregon. They settled in Santee, CA to raise their kids, who attended West Hills High School. They moved to Lakeside 5 years ago.

After high school Joe took an apprentice program at Mesa College, becoming a Union Carpenter and following in his father's footsteps. They worked on several jobs together before his father passed away in 1983. Joe continued his career and learned finish carpentry and cabinet making from his good friend and high school football coach Bill Crusburg. Later he was an employee and shop manager for Woodworks West and worked on several prestigious projects around town. To this day, friends that he worked with said they never had more fun on the job than working with Joe. He was good at his job and found joy in every day.

Joe was self employed for several years and received his contractor's license when his son Joey came home from the Air Force to learn his father's trade. They ran Joe Holden & Son together for 10 years before Joe became too ill to work on a daily basis. His son Joey will continue the family business.

Besides his passion for carpentry, Joe had several hobbies throughout his life. In 1977, he bought a Hobie Cat Sailboat and spent many hours sailing in Mission Bay. Although not used as much after the '80's, the boat has stayed in the family for over 30 years and is still enjoyed on beautiful days at the bay.

In 1991, Joe found a new hobby in off-roading. He bought his first jeep, a 1982 CJ-8 Scrambler, and introduced four-wheeling to the rest of the family. He taught his kids to drive on dirt roads in the Jeep before they could drive legally on the street. After several family trips to the desert and mountains, he joined the Tierra Del Sol 4-Wheel Drive Club in December of 1995. Through his 16 years as a member of the club, Joe played an active role in running their annual TDS Desert Safari, trailbossing several trips with other club members, and serving as Board Member for the club. The hobby became a favorite activity for the entire family, and now each of his kids has their own Jeep and carries on the tradition.

Joe is known by friends and strangers alike as "Joe Mama." After several back surgeries, Joe spent a lot of time at home taking care of the kids. The kids would say, "I want my mama," and he would reply, "I am your mama. I'm your Joe Mama!" The nickname stuck and was a tribute to Joe's loving and nurturing personality. He liked to take care of people and would stop for anyone in need. He often fixed broken rigs he'd find out on the offroading trail and those people would end up at our campfire at the end of the night. Tradesmen all around San Diego will say, "I call him Joe Mama because he takes care of everyone!"

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 9 at 3pm at the Al Bahr Shrine facility, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society in Joe’s name.

Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service is assisting the family

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