Herbert Esco Bilderbach III

BILDERBACH III, Herbert (“Joe”) Esco

Born July 8, 1938, Willowbrook, Los Angeles, CA

Passed August 28, 2022, Huntington Beach, CA

 Joe grew up in Southern California.  Among many other things he experienced raising chickens, growing almonds and he loved diving for abalone.  After graduating from Huntington Park High School and Compton Community College, he joined the US Air Force in 1959.  He served 8 years between bases in Texas, Great Falls, MT (where he met his future wife), then on to Wiesbaden, Germany and finally Duluth, MN.  He worked in the accounting department (payroll) as an accounting supervisor and, specifically, the implementation of computer systems in the payroll department and general accounting. 

He married Julia (Julie) Seymour in Long Beach, California while on leave from Wiesbaden in April 1963.  She joined him in Germany where they enjoyed traveling most weekends and holidays.  In 1965, he was deployed to the air base in Duluth.  While still in the USAF he began working nights monitoring computers at Ojibway Press. 

In 1966 he left the USAF (as a Tech Sargent) and joined Ojibway.  He continued with Ojibway Press as it evolved into HBJ, Edgell Communication and Advanstar Communications.  He was made VP of Operations of BeckleyCardy School Supplies when it was acquired by HBJ.  He simultaneously held the position of VP of Circulation – Trade publications overseeing 110 titles (a special thank you to the Duluth Postal carriers delivering to our homes).  He had many wonderful memories with his co-workers from Christmas parties, summer picnics, softball games and, yes, everyday work. 

Outside of work, Joe took advantage of any opportunities to ski, hunt, fish, travel and camp with friends and family, especially his children.  He was a member of Hal Smith’s Health Spa for over 20 years where he enjoyed working out. He kept up with auto racing, F1 and Indy Car, going to the Indy 500 time trials with the RAMERI “racing” Team for 35+ years.  He was involved with Kart racing, both driving and supporting his son’s driving, on tracks in Brainard, MN and across the US – lots of driving and meeting great people.  

Returning to California in the 90’s, to be closer to older relatives, he enjoyed working with new friends on Habitat for Humanity projects around Menifee, CA.  He also enjoyed golf, travel and RV’ing (Club and separately) and spending time with family and friends. 

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Julie; his children, of whom he was very proud; Krista and Kurt (April, his favorite daughter-in-law) and granddaughters (who he loved watching grow up from swinging in the back yard to Cheer to High School and College) Ariel and Brianna. 

A family memorial service will be held at a later date.  The family suggests that memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Parkinson Voice Project or Habitat for Humanity (national or your local unit).

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