Jose Luis "Pepe" Ibanez

He was born June 17, 1939, in Mexico City, Mexico, the son of Jose Fernandez Somellero and Sofia Huller (Sanchez) Ibanez. He graduated from the Colegio Mexico in Mexico City and later earned his GED in Anchorage, Alaska. Education was very important to Jose; while in the U.S. AirForce he attended Riverbend Community College of Washington State, while stationed in Germany. He continued his education earning his bachelors degree from Mankato State University in 1986 and his Masters Degree in Arts & Humanities1993 also through Mankato State University. Jose was a career non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, serving from April 1961 to May 1984, where he was a Staff Sgt. in Vietnam. He earned the AirForce Commendation Medal, Presidential Citation, Vietnam Campaign medal, Good Conduct and Longevity medals. He attended SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church and was a member of the American Legion Post 89, VFW Post 4580, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32, Military Retirees Association, Vietnam Veterans Retirees Association and the Mankato State University Alumni Assoc.Jose is survived by his wife, Dessie Ibanez of Elmore, his daughter, Dessie Sofia (Michael) Slater of Jerome, Idaho, his son, Jose Luiz Ibanez, Jr. of Elmore, his daughter, Barbara (Patrick) Homan of Yukon, Oklahoma, his daughter, Donna Swan of Abilene, Texas, his daughter, Maria del Carmen (Brian) Hunt of N. Mankato, his son, Antonio Carlos Ibanez of Elmore, his sister, Teresita (Chet) Sutter of Kalamazoo, MI, 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.Jose was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.