Joseph Leonard Mistretta Jr.

Joseph Leonard Mistretta, Jr., 71, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at home in Wilsonville, Oregon surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1951 to Joseph and Laura (Ofrias) Mistretta. People were the most important thing in every aspect of Joseph’s life. His kindness, compassion, and willingness to give anything he could is his legacy. He spent his energy giving freely of his time, listening without judgement, and always found ways to help others without expectation. He raised funds and contributed to a variety of organizations that were close to his heart and had impacted those around him. Joseph never bought one of anything, always giving away the second. He treated everyone like family and they became family. Joseph would want to be honored by his family and friends continuing this legacy. Joseph was born in Brooklyn in 1951. He grew up playing stick ball in the street and visiting his grandparents on Long Island during the summers. The family moved upstate to Saugerties, New York in the early 1960s. A natural artist, he drew, painted, and created artwork with the intent of going to art school. One of his early jobs was with The Fur Balloon creating tie dyed clothing. He kept in contact with his high school art teacher throughout his lifetime. Joseph moved to Santa Ana, California, in 1970 joining his family who had moved the year before. He was accepted to the Laguna School of Art. While working to save for tuition, he found his passion working in the food processing machinery industry. He began in the shop and worked his way up to engineering and design. He found his soulmate in Beth (Jensen) Mistretta in the early 1970s and they married in 1974. They spent their free time camping, water skiing, and raising funds for muscular dystrophy with their car club, Associated Wheels. In the 1980s, they moved to Riverside, California and their daughter Corey was born. Joseph started a food machinery business named Tempco. Joseph’s business know-how was second only to his care and compassion for those he worked with. He sold the business in the 1990s and moved his family to San Antonio, Texas for two years to continue working for the new owners. In 1994, he decided it was time to begin a new company, FOODesign, and the family moved to Oregon. Oregon quickly became home. Joseph loved the natural wonderland Oregon provided and found happiness in traveling throughout the state. The Oregon Garden and Resort became a home away from home. He and Beth loved to watch the seasons change and visited often, taking family and friends. Their family grew in the 2000s with their daughter’s marriage followed by the birth of their two grandsons. He treated his son-in-law, David, as if he were his own child. When his grandsons were born, he was thrilled. Joseph loved to spend time with them and attended every milestone in their lives. During his 20 years running FOODesign, Joseph became a notable contributor to the industry. His reputation for high quality machinery was synonymous with the company’s name. Joseph sold the company in 2014 with the intent to retire. However, sitting still was not in his nature and he chose to consult with others in the food industry. Throughout his life, he continued to work with and help the industry friends he had made along the way. He showed that even in the difficult times, people were still the most important thing. Joseph is preceded by his parents Joseph and Laura (Ofrias) Mistretta, his brother Charles Mistretta, and his parents-in-law Albert and Jacqueline (Wade) Jensen. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Beth (Jensen) Mistretta; his daughter Corey (Mistretta) Martin, his son-in-law David Martin, and his grandsons Joseph and Charles Martin; sister and brother-in-law Martha and Nick Sanchez; sisters Rose Minuto, Annette Mistretta, and Noelle Fassinger; nieces Carmela Minuto, Michelle Lindsay, Laura Fassinger, Gabrielle Sanchez, and Jessica Fassinger; nephews Joe Minuto, Jack Spinnenweber II, and Cody Buffington; and Tessa (Boydstun), Steve, and Benton Kerr. A private ceremony will be held in Spring of 2024. Please honor Joseph’s legacy by remembering that people are the most important thing in life. Joseph would like that.

Joseph Leonard Mistretta Jr.

June 8, 1951 - January 28, 2023