Joe Cervantes, 72, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, Nebraska.
He was born May 4, 1953, in Scottsbluff, NE to Pedro and Julia (Salazar) Cervantes. He graduated from Scottsbluff High School and then from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He found work the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Alliance, Lincoln, McCook, Hebron, Stanton and finally with the Natural Resource Conservation Services in Alliance, NE and stayed until he retired at 55.
He was united in marriage to Marie (Howe) Cervantes on December 26, 1975. He was a devoted family man, who loved spending time gardening, watching Husker football, and doing some occasional gambling. The greatest joy of his last two and half years was spending time with his grandson.
Joe is survived by his wife, Marie, his son Marcos, his daughter Melissa (Lance) Haas, and grandson Garrett Haas. He is also survived by his brother Danny Cervantes (Jeannie) of Scottsbluff, NE, and sisters, Helen Pina and Irene Dominguez of Scottsbluff, NE, and Adela Serrano of Miami, FL, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, Pedro and Julia, his brothers Andrew, Reynaldo, and Jesse Cervantes, and his sisters Margaret Cervantes and Annie Flores.
Memorial services will be Friday, June 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady Guadalupe Catholic Church in Scottsbluff with Father Joseph Thambi officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Fairview Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Guadalupe Center immediately after services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Empowering Families of Scottsbluff or to the Hemingford Volunteer Fire Fighters Association.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.