Joseph "Joe" Grossardt, 86, was born on March 14, 1937, in Lone Pine, Calif., to Lena and Benjamin Grossardt. He passed away in hospice care in Bakersfield, Calif., on April 28, 2023 after a short fight with heart disease. Joe, a self-taught man, completed 9th grade at Bishop High School, Calif.
Joe was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Roberta Ruth, and his daughter, Lisa Gay; brothers, Willis (Pat) and Ralph; sister, Alberta (Lloyd); and parents, Lena and Benjamin (Josephine).
Joe is survived by his long-time companion, Lydia Schumer; sons, Raymond (Karen), Steven (Dina), Danny (Lisa), and Jeffery (Shelley); daughter, Barbara Snyder; stepdaughter, Halie Peterson; sister, Betty; sister-in-law, Evonne; 18 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Joe came to Ridgecrest in 1942 when China Lake Boulevard was just dirt. A longtime resident and a man of many talents, Joe, in his young life, helped build the infrastructure of Ridgecrest and China Lake Navy Base (schools, church, etc.) while being employed by local companies, Asphalt Construction, and Continental Telephone Company. Joe owned and operated many businesses, Mobile Gas Station, and U-Haul Rentals at the Triangle on China Lake Boulevard for approximately 20 years while also operating Joe's Mobile Home Transport, Heavy Equipment Rentals (water truck, dump trucks, tractors, motor grader, etc.) and Action 24 Hour Towing local and long distance service.
Joe wanted to help better his community by participating in organizations such as President of Ridgecrest Sister City Association, Search and Rescue (mine shafts, etc.), Footprinters Association, Treasurer of Entertainers Network of the Desert, Valley Patrol, and Historical Society. Also, he was always willing to help whenever there was a need such as assembling a 45-foot Christmas Tree at Hobo Joes on China Lake Boulevard where Denny's is located now. He delivered the facility/office trailer to the Maturango Museum, constructed the Rodeo Arena at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds and helped build Dider Housing track.
He enjoyed the people of the Ridgecrest community therefore joining several clubs, lodges, and groups: High Desert Drifters motorcycle club, Square Dancing club, Four-Wheel Drive club, Bouncer at JDs Club, Eagles and Moose Lodges, Journey to Happiness Group and a leader of Teenage Dances.
Joe loved and enjoyed being with his family while country dancing, camping stream fishing in Bishop, motorcycling riding, horseback riding and off roading in the Scout (they called themselves the Dirty Dozen).
Services for Joseph Grossardt will be held on Saturday, June 17th, at 1 p.m., at the Clarion Inn in the banquet hall located at 901 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support, cards, flowers, prayers, and well wishes. We have felt the love from all of our friends and family near and far.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Grossardt, please visit our flower store.
