Joseph Edward Regan

Joseph Edward Regan passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at his home in Prescott, Arizona. Joe was born on November 13th, 1928, to John E. Regan and Asta Marie Frederiksen in Livermore, California. Joe was the last survivor of the seven children in their Regan family.

Joe is survived by his wife, Shirley Regan, their four children (Mike, Martha, Cindy and Ruth), his six grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, Shirley’s brother (Hayden) and many nieces and nephews, sons-in-law and friends.

Joe met Shirley Gildersleeve at a high school dance and immediately fell in love with her big smile. They married after graduation and began their 76 years of marriage in Livermore, then raised their family in Newark, CA and, after retirement, moved to Wilsonville, Oregon, then Gardnerville, Nevada and Prescott, Arizona.

For more than 50 years, Joe successfully owned and operated a couple of businesses. The prime business was Regan Nursery, a retail nursery in Fremont, CA. Shirley worked right alongside Joe as he added acreage and grew the business into a thriving operation. Joe’s other main business was Regan Brothers Christmas Trees: a partnership with his brother, John Regan. Originally, they had contracts with timber companies to harvest natural trees in the mountains, but later expanded to owning and operating tree farms in Oregon. Trees were harvested and shipped all across the country. Joe and John also operated retail Christmas tree lots in California.

Joe was an outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish, activities he started while growing up on the family ranch in Livermore. At first, he hunted in California but later also enjoyed hunts in all the Western states. Joe loved to fish rivers and streams, and occasionally lakes. He tried deep sea fishing but was not enthused. Balancing family and his business interests, at first Joe fished close by, in California and Nevada, but eventually loved fishing in Alaska and British Columbia. He traveled even farther to fish in Russia, Chile, and Argentina.

When the businesses were wrapped up, Joe had more time on his hands. He entertained himself by playing poker machines at nearby casinos: At Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe, and then at Bucky’s Casino in Prescott. He said it kept his mind active and he enjoyed the company of others with the same interest. Joe was a fairly lucky man, despite having been born on a Friday the 13th.

Joe will be missed by his family and friends, and especially by Shirley. The family is holding a Celebration of Life and luncheon on November 13, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at Touchmark at the Ranch, 3800 Touchmark Blvd. Prescott, AZ. All who knew and loved Joe are welcome.