José German Caero

José German Caero

1929 – 2026

Fortified by the sacraments of the Church and embraced by the love of Mary, the Mother of our Lord, José German Caero, 98, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on August 21, 2026, going to rest in the arms of our Lord. He had called Fort Worth home since 1964.

José was born in 1929 in Totora, Bolivia, to the late Rosendo and Maria Caero. At the age of 19, he left Bolivia to pursue engineering at Michigan State University and Indiana Institute of Technology. It was the beginning of a lifelong career defined by ingenuity, dedication, and an unwavering work ethic.

It was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that José met Janet Lill. After a brief courtship and a trip to Bolivia to meet his family, José and Janet were married; a marriage that would last 66 years, until Janet's death in 2020. Together, they raised six children and built a family rooted in faith, generosity, and love.

José worked as an engineer in a variety of roles within the aerospace industry, working for Bendix, General Dynamics, and finally Bell Helicopter. In his twenties, José invented and patented a new disc brake, the first of several inventions he would develop over the course of his career. He went on to work as a Program Director and Engineering Consultant in the design and development of numerous aircraft, including his favorite, the V-22 Osprey, the program to which he devoted much of his career, as well as the F-111, F-14, and F-18. José continued to work and provide consultation to the industry, especially for the V-22 Osprey program, well into his 70s. He was recognized nationally by both industry and government for his leadership in the management, development, and integration of flight controls, hydraulics, and other critical aircraft systems. 

José’s professional success never diverted his attention from his greatest loves, Faith and Family. He was a founding member of Holy Family Catholic Church and School, which his children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren continue to attend regularly. Since José and Janet understood the value of Catholic education, alongside the strong example of faith and prayer at home, many of their children and grandchildren also graduated from Nolan Catholic High School. Together, they were active supporters of the pro-life movement and many other Catholic ministries supporting the poor. José and Janet further embraced Our Lord’s teaching to give to the least fortunate and generously donated to ministries in Bolivia, including lifelong support of a soup kitchen. In 2017, José and Janet were inducted into the Nolan Catholic High School Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing their outstanding life achievements and their embodiment of the school’s motto, Esto Dux (Be a Leader). At his core, José was a man of deep and quiet generosity, traits he embodied in every action, setting a shining example for all who knew him.

José was an only child, while Janet was one of 13 children, and together they built a large, close-knit family of their own. He and Janet loved to travel and saw much of the world together. They made a point of taking each of their grandchildren on special trips. José was close to all his grandchildren; he and Janet spent countless hours taking them to lunch and to outings of all kinds. After Janet's death, José traveled frequently to Cochabamba, Bolivia, where he had gone to high school, reconnecting with the country of his youth.

As integral pillars of the community, José and Janet were longtime members of Ridglea Country Club, where they played tennis and golf together for many years. Tennis became a family tradition. All of their children, and several grandchildren, took up the game. José loved attending their matches, but his enthusiasm extended far beyond the tennis court. He cherished watching all his grandchildren on the baseball field and the basketball court. His dedication led him to frequently travel to Waco to cheer on his grandchildren as they competed in the state tennis tournaments for Nolan Catholic High School and St. Pius X High School.

While José was keenly aware of the impact of both his professional career and of his service to the Church and the poor, he was proudest of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their spouses, the family he and Janet built together.

Jose Caero's life spanned continents and decades, from a small town in Bolivia to the gateway to the West and the forefront of American aerospace engineering, but at its heart it was always about faith, family, and generosity toward others. Everyone who interacted with him was better because of it, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his six children: Joe (Roxana), Maria (Calvin), Martha (David), Steve (Cathy), Tricia (Keith), and Laura (Steve). He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosendo and Maria Caero; his beloved wife of 66 years, Janet; his son-in-law, John Jacobi, and his great-granddaughter, Anna Sophia Jacobi.

Family and friends are invited to the Visitation on August 27th, 2026 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Thompson’s Harveson & Cole, with a Rosary beginning at 6:30 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on August 28th at 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Fort Worth. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund, Mother & Unborn Baby Care of North Texas or offered as Mass intentions for the repose of José’s soul.