Joseph A. Amado Ortiz

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Joseph Amado Ortiz

February 19, 1931 – August 12, 2019

Leaving us as he lived his life-on his own terms, Joseph Amado Ortiz re-entered the cosmos on Monday, August 12th at 6:05 am. He was surrounded by love and truly at peace when it was time to go, a blessing for him and all of us left behind.

Born on February 19th, 1931 to Michael and Lorenza Ortiz in Racine, WI, his adventures eventually brought him to Milwaukee, where he settled in Bay View and raised a family of four with his beautiful former spouse Robin. While there he became the best Barber in the city (arguably the country), using this position to give so many others a way to make their own paths through life, whether that meant teaching the trade or simply dispensing advice.

We could go into everything he’s done, all the trappings of life, but that would take a book length discussion. Most notably, he lived his life every day knowing exactly who he was, and happy with that. No man is free of complications, and he was definitely not the exception to that rule, but he was very aware of that, and did his best to be a good man. One of the many repeated Jose-isms (and there are many) was, ‘There isn’t a man alive out there who doesn’t have problems…’. He took this to heart, and lived without judgement of others. He was the stranger who’d give you the shirt off his back, who’d say something simple to make you smile no matter how awful your day felt. Running into Jose could brighten up your day, and that’s the kind of joy that spreads, that makes this world a tolerable place. Everyone who knows Jose has a story about him. A true presence, a natural force of will, he brought joy, chaos, peace, and a clear-eyed vision of the world wherever he went. We can only hope he’s doing the same wherever he is now. I can’t imagine him any other way.

Remember him as the man he was, not by what he accomplished in life, but by how he lived that life. Remember what he meant to you, why he matters to you, and honor his memory by keeping those qualities alive in your own life. His true legacy is his spirit, and that will live forever.

Joseph is the beloved father of Christopher (Gena Gonzales) Ortiz, Nicolaus Ortiz, Angelita (James) Welniak and Teresa (Nolan Truttschel) Ortiz. He is grandfather of Julius Ortiz, Samuel Welniak and Jesse Welniak, and fond brother of Peter (Carmen) Ortiz, Anita Ortiz, the late Celia Ortiz and Tony (Marcia) Ortiz. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation at the Niemann / Suminski Funeral Home, 2486 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207 on Saturday. August 17, 2019 from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Private interment Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the National Honor Flight Network at honorflight.org or mailed to Honor Flight Inc, 175 S Tuttle Rd, Springfield OH 45505.

Please share a memory at or sign guest registry SuminskiFuneralHome.com.

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