Jose (Joe) Esteban

Jose (Joe) Esteban (MSGT USAF RET) was born on December 4, 1931 in Kahuku, Oahu. He died on January 16, 2011 in Las Vegas after a short illness.

Joe was a graduate of Kahuku High School.  He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Gloria (Richards) Esteban, formerly of Belgrade, Minnesota; daughter Kimberly (Paul) Bell of San Diego, California; sister Agnes (Jerry) Llanos of Mililan, Hawaii; brothers Arthur (Sherry) of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and Carlos (Dolores) of Waialua, Hawaii.  He is also survived by may nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by mother Olivia (O’Banon) Billedo and father Aurelio Esteban.

His military career began in 1949 and ended in 1973.  Prior to being assigned to the 4th Air Commando Squadron (Puff The Magic Dragon) in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Air Medals, two Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Oak Leaf Clusters and Presidential Unit Citation with “V” Device.  He was a Senior Aircrew member with 20,000 hours and 15 years of aircrew time.  His military service has taken him to Europe, Africa, South America, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.  He retired from the Air-Sea Rescue Squadron at Hickham AFB, Hawaii.  He moved from Belgrade, Minnesota to Las Vegas in 1990 and worked at the Imperial Palace for five years.

Special thanks to Solari Hospice for their loving care.

Cremation and services will be at La Paloma Funeral Services at 5450 Stephanie Street in Las Vegas.  Burial to follow in Hawaii at a later time.