[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E231-E232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JOSEPH ANTHONY ZANGER, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
the life and accomplishments of Mr. Joseph Anthony Zanger, Sr. whose 
business acumen, community service and family dedication are 
inspirational.
  Joseph was born on December 28, 1927 in San Jose, California. In true 
American style, Joseph was a descendent of hard-working immigrant 
families. His ancestors initially worked in the agricultural trade, but 
went on to build the largest cannery and winery in Santa Clara Valley.
  He attended St. Mary's Elementary School in San Jose, Bellarmine 
College Preparatory, and Santa Clara University, where he majored in 
economics. After attending college, Joseph moved to Pacheco Pass to 
help manage the family's orchard operations. In 1953, he married 
Kathleen Kelsch from Mandan, North Dakota. They raised their four 
children, Wendy, Allene, Joe, and Gretchen, on their ranch on Pacheco 
Pass.
  For over 50 years, Joseph and his two brothers, George and Eugene, 
farmed over 600 acres of orchards and vineyards on Pacheco Pass. 
Joseph's economics major enabled him to develop a business marketing 
strategy for the California Prune Bargaining Association, which he 
helped found at the age of 19. For ten years, Joseph represented San 
Benito and Santa Clara counties on the California/Federal Prune 
Administrative Committee and on the California Prune Advisory 
Committee. He also served as the Director of the Santa Clara Valley 
Winegrowers Association and President of the San Benito County Farm 
Bureau.
  The Zanger family founded Casa de Fruta to complement their farming 
business. Casa de Fruta started with a small cherry stand built in 1943 
and grew in the following decades to include a large fruit stand, 
restaurant, RV park, lodge, wine tasting, gift shop, barnyard zoo, 
candy store, service station, and dried fruit mailing business. Joseph 
oversaw the construction of the buildings and landscaped Casa de Fruta 
with large rocks that he hauled from the Pacheco Pass tunnel.
  Joseph constantly studied safety and economic issues related to the 
area's transportation system. In 1978, he served on the planning 
committee for completion of Interstate 5 from Stockton to Santa Nella/
Highway 152. In 2005, he worked to establish a new route for Highway 
152/156 to connect with Highway 101 south of Gilroy. Because of the 
large number of traffic accidents that had occurred on these highways, 
his work has benefitted the hundreds, if not thousands, of Californians 
who travel along those highways.
  I have the pleasure of employing one of Joseph's grandchildren, 
Meggie, in my Washington, D.C. office and I join her in celebrating her 
grandfather's life and accomplishments. I thank the Zanger family for 
their contributions to our region in California and, on behalf of our 
community in California's 16th Congressional District, offer sincere 
condolences on Mr. Zanger's passing.

[[Page E232]]



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