Joseph Fredrick Briggs

Joseph Fredrick Briggs was born on December 27, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan to Harold and Margaret Briggs. Vietnam Veteran, Aerospace Engineer, photographer, prankster, loving husband and father of four died on September 14, 2016 at the age of 76, having lived a full and adventurous life. Joes early years growing up with two older brothers in Michigan were wild like the characters in the film Stand by Me, jumping trains, eating tomatoes off neighborhood vines, playing ice hockey from morning until night and enjoying endless rag-tag, fun-filled days with his brothers and friends roaming the streets of Detroit. In 1956, he moved with his family to Santa Monica, California, where he finished high school and went on to city college. Shortly after he began working at Douglass Aircraft before he volunteered to serve his country. He served in the United States Army from 1963-1965 in Vietnam as part of a deep reconnaissance unit that conducted operations in Cambodia and North Vietnam. After being honorably discharged, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1968. After Joes military service he returned to McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and worked on projects related to the U.S. space program. He met Theresa Lightcap, his life-long, true love and they were married within the year in September 1968. They spent their first years living in Huntington Beach, California, often dancing in the evenings where Joe showed off his famous Fifties Rock and Roll style. They started a family in 1970 and began to raise four children who were Joes greatest love in life. He attended Golden West Community College during this period and received an Associates of Arts Degree. In 1976, Joe took his family on a great adventure to Cottage Grove, Oregon, to live in a cabin in the woods. He loved to fish, hunt, and spend time with his family in the outdoors. He returned with his family to Norco, California in 1982 to work again at McDonnell Douglass Aircraft on national security and defense systems and ultimately retiring after nearly 35 years in aerospace from Boeing in 2002. After retirement, Joe enjoyed spending time with his family, children, grandchildren, golfing and working in his community with the Knights of Columbus and St. Mels Catholic Church. Joe loved fundraising for charitable causes and would never miss a chance to bartend at Knights of Columbus events. Joe is survived by Terry, his beloved wife of almost 50 years. He also is survived by his son Kern; his daughter Christy and her husband Paul Trujillo and their children Karli and Alec; his daughter Anne and her husband Dave Misterly and their daughter Emma; and his daughter Jennifer. Joe is also survived by his brother Tom Briggs. A Funeral Mass will be held for Joe at St. Mels Catholic Church on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 11:30 a.m., 4140 Corona Ave, Norco, California. Interment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery. Donations in memory may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital (stjude.org). Arrangements by Thomas Miller Mortuary, Corona, California. Visitation St. Mel's Catholic Church Tuesday 9/20, 10:00 am - 11:00 am Service St. Mel's Catholic Church Tuesday 9/20, 11:00 am - 11:30 am St. Mel's Catholic Church Tuesday 9/20, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Riverside National Cemetery Staging Area #4 Tuesday 9/20, 2:00 pm Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery Staging Area #4 Thursday 1/1