Jesus "Jesse" Belbis Jose

Jesus Belbis Jose, 83, of Auburn, Washington, passed away on July 27, 2024 with his family by his side.

Affectionately known as Jesse, he was the first-born son of Rodrigo and Mercedes Jose of the Philippines.

Jesse lived his life with passion, humility, and servanthood.

He earned his American citizenship by choosing to serve in the U.S. Navy. Jesse left his native country in pursuit of the American dream.

While in service, Jesse was a Navy chief journalist and editor. He wrote for several military and civilian publications, including the Stars and Stripes, Navy Times, and All Hands. While writing and editing the Dolphin, a submarine base newspaper in Groton, Connecticut, he won the prestigious Thomas Jefferson award from the Department of Defense.

Jesse was a 1973 graduate of the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was assigned to the Seventh Fleet Public Affairs Office and was aboard aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Constellation.

Jesse continued his life of public service with a long career in law enforcement. He was a sheriff’s deputy for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Stuart, Florida.

While serving and protecting the community, Jesse, a fifth degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do, opened his own martial arts school where he trained numerous state and national champions including his children.

His love for writing continued as a columnist for Filipino American newspapers and magazines based in Chicago, Illinois. Three books followed with Jesse’s collections of his “best and most-hated” writings.  Jesse was the recipient of the 2002 Pluma Award in journalism from the Gintong Pamana Awards Foundation.

He was a devout Catholic and spent his free time serving God at several churches.

Jesse is survived by his loving wife, Maribel, children Jonathan, Christopher (Jaclyn), Anthony (Sherrie) Overheim and Jesselee, siblings Corazon Nockowitz, Socrates, Raquel Lim, Margaret DeJesus and Joey. Jesse’s legacy lives on with his four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rodrigo and Mercedes, and siblings, Rosemary and Emerson.

A celebration of life for Jesse will take place on August 7, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Saint Andrews Catholic Church in Sumner, Washington. His burial with full military honors will follow at Tahoma National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Andrews Catholic Church.