Joel Casas' Obituary
In Loving Memory of Joel Casas
Joel Casas was born in Weslaco, Texas, to Marcelino Casas Sr. and Argelia Castillo Casas. He was the fourth oldest child in a family rooted in faith, love, and service. Throughout his life, Joel dedicated himself to helping others, especially through the guidance and reformation of both adults and children.
In his younger years, Joel attended Weslaco ISD, where he excelled in athletics. Although he played baseball during sophomore and junior years, football was his true passion. As a nose guard for the Weslaco Panthers, Joel lettered during both his junior and senior years of high school and earned recognition as an All-District, All-Valley, All-South Texas, and All-State athlete.
Following high school, Joel received a football scholarship to attend Ranger Junior College in North Central Texas. Fittingly, the school colors at Ranger were also purple and white. As a proud Roaring Ranger, he continued playing nose guard for two years.
After returning to Weslaco, Joel began a long and dedicated career in security and corrections. He worked for Weslaco ISD as a security guard at schools including Cuellar Junior High and Mary Hoge Junior High. He later joined the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a corrections officer, leading him to East Texas where he served at the Darrington Unit, a maximum-security prison near Rosharon and Angleton, Texas. In this role, Joel was entrusted with the care, custody, safety, and control of inmates.
Over the course of more than 42 years, Joel faithfully served in various security and corrections positions. He worked as a security officer for Koch Refineries in Corpus Christi and as a Loss Prevention officer for Kmart in Weslaco. He also served at the Tamayo Halfway House in Harlingen, a division of the Texas Youth Commission, where he helped guide young people through education, treatment, and skills programs that assisted in their reintegration into their communities. Joel built lasting relationships with both his coworkers and the youth whose lives he impacted.
Joel later worked for Donna ISD as a security officer at Runn Elementary School and retired in 2022 from Edcouch-Elsa ISD, where he served at R.C.R. Elementary School.
Outside of work, Joel deeply loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed attending his daughters’ volleyball and basketball games, as well as fishing and hunting with his brothers-in-law. In his younger years, he played in community softball leagues alongside his brothers Marcelino and Robert and enjoyed playing billiards. Joel was an avid sports fan whose loyalty belonged to the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, Texas Longhorns, and later, the Texas A&M Aggies.
In his later years, Joel’s Catholic faith became the center of his life. He was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus and faithfully served as a sacristan at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church. He assisted Father Francisco Solis during confessions and could always be found arriving hours early on Saturdays to help prepare for Mass. Joel faithfully prayed the rosary daily and was known for his kindness, compassion, and unwavering faith in God.
Joel’s legacy lives on through his beloved daughters, Isabel Fuentes (JP Perez) and Lauren Jennifer Gomez (Sergio); and his cherished grandchildren, David Jeremy Fuentes, Sergio Alberto Gomez Jr., Isaiah Ray Perez, Lilly Isabella Gomez, Emilia Riley Perez, and Samuel Santiago Gomez.
He is also survived by his siblings, Marcia Casas, Blanca O. Palomares (Juan), Melissa Casas, Robert Casas (Rina), and Daniel Moreno (Terry).
Joel was preceded in death by his parents, Marcelino Casas Sr. and Argelia Castillo Casas; his brother, Marcelino Casas Jr, his sister, Melva Casas; and nephew Michael Justin Gonzalez.
Pallbearers will be Robert Casas, Manuel Castillo, Sergio Gomez Sr, JP Perez, Isaiah Ray Perez, and Lupe Balboa.
Honorary Pallbearers will be David Jeremy Fuentes, Sergio Alberto Gomez Jr., Lilly Isabella Gomez, Emilia Riley Perez, and Samuel Santiago Gomez.
Joel will be remembered for his strength, dedication, generosity, deep faith, and unwavering love for his family and community. His presence touched countless lives, and his memory will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Joel has now reunited in eternal peace with his beloved mother, Argelia Castillo Casas.
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