Joe J. D. Cruz, 96, of Radcliff, passed away Sunday, December 22, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on October 15, 1928, in Tucson, Arizona to Jose Matias Urrutia Cruz and Manuela Emilia Ramirez Dorsey Cruz. As a young man, he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and from there joined the Army. He was a proud veteran serving 27 years encompassing the end of WWII and included service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He also retired from Civil Service as a tank instructor. He was a respected member of American Legion Post 113, the VFW Post 10281, the German-American Club in Louisville, KY and was a parishioner at St Christopher Catholic Church as well as a member of The Knights of Columbus.

Aside from the joy of being a grandfather (Opa Joe), his favorite pastimes were golfing, maintaining his yard as well as his adopted Pruitt Family cemetery on Fort Knox. He was a cartoonist for the Fort Knox newspaper “The Turret” under the pen name “El Senor”. As an active “Honey-Doer” for the German-American Club, he painted more than 150 city Coat of Arms that are on display. He never met a stranger and made friends easily.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Edeltrude P. “Trudy” Cruz along with his parents, his brother Jose M. Cruz, his sister, Natalia “Nati”Piniero, and three nephews, Joe Ray Piniero, Jose M. “Junior” Cruz, and Andrew J. “Jimmy” Cruz.

He is survived by his daughters, Tanya M. Miller (Ronnie) and Sylvia D. Sloan; grandchildren Kyle T. Sloan (Naizeth) Kelsey E. Sloan, Natalie M. Miller-Curry (Kyle) and Stacy A. Miller (step-granddaughter) as well as three nieces and a nephew, Teresa M. “Tere” Graves, Reynalda F. “Reyna” Cruz, Paula E. Mason, and Robert L. Cruz and many great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 2, 2024 at St. Christopher Parish, Radcliff, KY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 2, 2024 at St. Christopher Parish, Radcliff, KY with Rev. Jeff Hopper officiating. An inurnment ceremony with military honors will be held at The Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff at 12:30 PM.
 
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Animal Refuge Center of Vine Grove, Hospice of Central Kentucky, St. Christopher Catholic Parish or the charity of your choice.