Joe Jess Galvan was born in Wood River, Nebraska on July 7th, 1938. He was raised and went to school in Grand Island, Nebraska. In January 1955, Joe entered the National Guard but ended up transferring into the Navy.
He completed boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. Following boot camp, he spent 2 years in El Central, California before being transferred to Barber’s Point in Oahu, Hawaii. He was a navy airman in Hawaii.
In July 1959, he returned to Grand Island and married his childhood sweetheart Patty Sanchez. The couple settled and raised their three sons in Grand Island. Joe retired from Case New Holland and has enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren since.