Joe Edward “Coche” Cantu, Jr., of Kenedy, Texas, born February 17, 1937 to Jose Maria Cantu and Carmen Mireles Cantu passed away on      Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at his residence surrounded by family at the age of 80 . Coche was a member of the Kenedy GI Forum, Lulac, the Sportsman Club, was a Little League Head Coach and coached the Kenedy Kings for many years and won a State Championship. He is preceded in death by his son, Danny Cantu, his sister, Elida Garza, brothers, Manuel Cantu and Arcadio Padron, Jr. and also his parents. He is survived by his wife that he married on December 17, 1983, Maria Amelia Cantu; his two daughters, JoAnn Cantu Lomas, of Kenedy, TX and Carmen Jo Hernandez, of Kileen, TX; son, Michael Cantu, of Kenedy, TX and adopted son, David Lee Cantu, of Kenedy, TX; he raised: Crescencio Lazcano, Magalena Lazcano,  and Francisca Lazcano; sisters, Emelda Cantu, of Kenedy, TX; Margie (Jerry) Villarreal, Sinton, TX and Mary (Albino) Albiar,  Runge, TX; brothers, Jimmy (Isabel) Garcia, of  Canyon, TX, David  (Janie) Ozuna Sr., of Houston, TX and Guadalupe (Bertha) Ozuna, of Corpus Christi, TX; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives. A Holy Rosary will be recited Friday, August 18, 2017 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with the Rev. Norbert Hermann officiating.  Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Kenedy, TX. Serving as Pallbearers: Carlos Gonzales, Crescencio Lazcano, David Lee Cantu, Joe Ed Ponish, Michael Cantu, Tito (Louis) Baldaramos, Martin Lazcano, Sergio Garcia and Jaime Garza. Honorary Pallbearers: Demetrio Sosa and Benito Buntello.