Joe, also affectionately known as Daddy, Poppa,PawPaw Big Boy, Loving Man, The Surgeon General, Mr. Goodwrench, Mr. John Deere passed peacefully into Heaven surrounded by his family on February 9, 2022 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, LA. He had a brief illness with cancer and gave it his all. Not being one for gloom and doom and negativity, he refrained from sharing the extent of his ailments with many. He preferred to focus on the positive and remained prayerful to the end of his earthly life.

He was born on February 13, 1950, in Independence, LA, to the late Vincent and Pamela LaRocca Gaeta. He was a 1968 graduate of Amite High School where he enjoyed playing sports, particularly football. He was a master Chevrolet mechanic and worked for Hood Chevrolet for approximately 25 years where he made many, many friends. He then found the best job of all with Carlo's Oyster House. It really wasn't a job but a hobby he was paid to do. He and Mr. Carlo Venterella would drag 2 kids all over the creation looking for old equipment to put back to work. It sometimes involved a chainsaw, winch trucks, and numerous hands to retrieve their latest find and bring back to the shop so the resurrection process could begin. City buses, Caterpillar equipment, heavy trucks and his all time favorite, tractors, were among the saved. Retiring early to "do what I want to do", Poppa came home to put his full attention to tinkering on his fleet of tractors and equipment to save them from the scrap yard, enjoying his home compound dubbed "The Hill", and catering to everyone's appetite, mainly his grandchildren's. He was very outgoing and wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of and loved to host large gatherings and parties.

He even operated "Pops Shuttle '' and picked up kids from the school carline to make sure they were home where they were fed and spoiled. He was also a fisherman, hunter, gun enthusiast, friend, practical joker, personal caterer, electrician, carpenter, and Jay's counterpart in G&G Antique Farm Equipment.

He is survived by his best friend, wife, and caregiver, Frances Mandera Gaeta. They were married just shy of 53 years. Also survived by his children Tammy Gaeta Campo and husband Frank, Stephanie Gaeta Campo and her husband Tony, and Joseph Vincent Gaeta, Jr (Jay or JV) and his wife Mary; his wonderful grandchildren, Giovanni Campo, Maria Campo, Mario Campo, Micah Campo, Sarah Campo, Maelyn Gaeta, and Joseph Gaeta, III (Trey); great-grandchild, Kenidee. He is also survived by his siblings, Geri Gaeta Mayeaux and her husband Kenny, John Gaeta and his wife Mary, and Mary Gaeta Melvin, brother-in-law, Mike
Manera; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Angelo Gaeta, his nephew Brandon Mayeaux, and his niece Morgan Hutchinson.

Visitation will be at St. Helena Catholic Church on Monday, February, 14, 2022. The Rosary will be recited at 8:30 with visitation extending to 11:30. Mass will be at 12:00 with burial at the Amite Cemetery on Chestnut Street.

In true Pop fashion, "you dress nice and be clean" but are encouraged to wear Farmall Red or John Deere green or yellow, overalls, pants or jeans. Suit and tie is not required, only your stories, laughs, and memories of good times.

To the tractor and engine family, if you would like to bring a tractor, we would like to bring him to his final resting place with a Parade of Power.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Dr. Gordon Wadge and Dr. Wright and their staff at Ochsner Cancer Center in Covington and the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, and to Dr. BT Callihan.

McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.