Joseph A. Soto

Joseph A. Soto, 73, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2023.
He was born December 16, 1949, to Juan Sr. and Maria (Dominguez) Soto. Born in Gonzales but raised in Shiner, as a boy, Joe would help his father with various farm work. When he wasn’t doing his chores, little Joe would practice his quick draw with his toy gun for hours- some of his youngest siblings always keeping a close eye on their big brother’s skills.   
During his school days at St. Ludmila and St. Paul, he and his life long best friends- James Hajek and Anthony Boehm- would play tricks and cut up when they should have been doing school work. In 1969, Joe graduated from St. Paul and soon made his next venture into Law Enforcement, following in his father’s footsteps.
In 1970, Joe graduated from the San Antonio Police Academy and started off as a “beat cop”, walking the lively streets of San Antonio. At the age of 24, Joe was asked to join a special force to become a fugitive apprehension officer, one of the only ones in Texas, and traveled all over the United States.
When the program was abolished, Joe made his way to work for the Sugarland Prison and while there, he met some crazy characters, learned how to make the best scrambled eggs and even “stared” in Stephen Spielberg’s “The Sugarland Express” as a background guard- where he liked to jokingly say his stardom began.
Soon after that venture was over, Joe began working for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s department. While working for Fort Bend County, Joe met another life-long friend, Larry McDougal, while working extra police jobs. The two shared many stories and even years later, continued to share weekly calls, talking for hours on end.
In 1991, Joe met his one true love, Mary Denise Shields, while visiting a friend who happened to live in the same apartment complex as his future wife. As he and Denise shook hands, they shocked each other, which was when Joe knew Denise was something special. The two married and Joe became a stepfather to Denise’s son and nephew, Carlo Shields, and Nick Villalona and in 1993, welcomed a daughter, Jacklyn.
In 2000, Joe and his family moved back to his beloved hometown of Shiner, where they continued to stay. Joe began volunteering for the same school he graduated from, driving the bus for the Shiner Catholic School. After volunteering for seven years, the school insisted on adding Joe to the pay roll, where he continued to work until 2020, giving a total of 20 years of dedicated service to the school.
Joe was a faithful and hardworking member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as a former Grand Knight, and District Marshall. As a Grand Knight, Joe was instrumental in facilitating the acquisition of the American Legion Hall for the present-day Knights of Columbus Park and Hall which serves the community of Shiner and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church
Survivors include his wife, Mary Denise Soto; sons Carlo Shields (Veronica) of Haslet and Nick Villalona (Sylvia) of Houston; daughter, Jacklyn Soto of Shiner; sisters, Ofelia Perez of Harlingen and Mary Soto of Houston; brothers, Cleto Soto of Shiner and Juan Soto Jr. of Gonzales; two grandchildren, Curtis Shields (Brittney) of Fort Worth, Brianna Shields of Haslet; three great-grandchildren, Aiden Shields, Brody Gonzales and Scarlet Shields.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Robert Soto and Richard Soto.
A Holy Rosary will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 14 at Shiner Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, with the Rev. Bryan Heyer serving as celebrant.
Private interment will follow in the Shiner Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers are James Hajek, Anthony Boehm, Larry McDougal, Kevin Garcia, Philip Pilat, John Leal, Donald Woods, and Travis Bollum.
Honorary pallbearers are Cleto Soto, Juan Soto Jr., Carlo Shields, Nick Villalona, Andrew Soto, Timothy Soto, Joshua Soto, Curtis Shields, Kenneth Kremling, Clarence Hodges, Christopher Kaspar, Koen Kaspar and Brody Gonzales.
Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.shinerfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be made to the Shiner Catholic Schools or the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation.  
Services are under the care and direction of Shiner Funeral Home.