Joseph Antonio Lucero

Joseph Antonio Lucero, 90, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026. Grampa Joe was born December 3, 1935, in Taos, NM to Joe Abram and Julia Herrera Lucero.

Joe graduated from Taos High School with honors in 1955. He went on to graduate from New Mexico Highlands University in 1959, with a Masters of Social Work and then graduated from the University of Denver in 1969.

He served from 1952 to 1986 in the US Army retiring with 34 years of service as Captain and was a commissioned officer in the National Guard. Joe married Edwina Martinez on July 16, 1987 in Waco, TX.

Joe was employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Medical Social Worker in Waco, TX and Ft. Lyons, CO. He went on to be the Director of Social Services Indian Services at Pine Ridge PHS/IHS Hospital South Dakota, also in Chinle and Winslow, AZ. He taught for 10 years in the Graduate School of Social Work at NMHU and worked 12 years as a social worker for Taos County and Director of Social Services in Albuquerque.

He was a member of Santuario de San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Joe was a member of the National Association of Social Workers, NM Albuquerque Chapter; the American Legion-Post 13; and member and secretary of the National Associate of Retired Federal Employees (Chapter 1462-Belen, NM).

Joe is survived by his wife, Edwina Lucero; four children; step-granddaughter, Chantal M. Martinez; brother, Abran Lucero; nephew, Larry Lucero, and niece, Linda Houghs. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Abram Lucero; mother, Julia Herrera Lucero; and brother, Jimmy Lucero.

A Rosary will be recited Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10:30 a.m., at Santuario de San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 8301 Camino San Martin SW, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at Pajarito Cemetery.