Joseph Carl Reiss Jr.

Joseph Carl Reiss, Jr., passed away peacefully on 17 November 2025, after battling a long illness.  He was 88 years old and had resided in Vista, CA, for the last 49 years. Born 23 June 1937 in Detroit, MI, he grew up in nearby St. Clair Shores.  His backyard was a dock, and he grew up loving the water.  In 1957, he drove his young family on Route 66 to California to take a job eventually in aerospace.  He worked for many years at Hughes Aircraft Company, then at Computer Automation, where he met Anne, his second wife. They soon moved to Vista, where he worked in underwater technology.  He ended his working career teaching part-time for the California Regional Occupational Program at Palomar Community College and several local high schools.  He enjoyed teaching young people and had a positive influence on many of their lives. Besides loving boats and the water, he also loved the desert.  He liked nothing better than to take his family out to the desert to “blow a little stink off.”

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Reiss, Sr., his mother, Lilian Omlin Reiss, and his daughter, Julia Reiss Mensay.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anne;  his daughters, Catherine Turner (Micheal) and Michelle Reiss; stepsons, Jon Manning (Micki), Jay Manning (Leslie), and stepdaughter, Jennifer Cinocco; three grandchildren, Alex Turner (Melissa), Cassandra Turner, and Gabriel Turner; step-grandchildren, Aaron Manning (Chelsea), Ian Manning, Hannah Holly, Gavin Manning, Ellen Manning, Melanie Jauregui (Jomar); Samantha Harlow and Madilyn Cheney (Eric); as well as 14 great-grandchildren; two step-nephews, James “Mac” Enman (Detra) and Clint Enman (Jennifer); and our chosen family, John & Betty Russell, Tiffany Heidi & Tamara Russell.

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