Joseph Shade

Joseph Shade, 88, of Austin, Texas (for the last 11 years), and long-time Dallas attorney and law professor, who grew up in Temple, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2024. Joe was born on October 9, 1935, to Louis and Ethel Shade in Birzia, Lithuania. He and his parents arrived in the United States just a week after his third birthday and made their way to Temple, Texas where Joe’s mother had two brothers and a sister who were already running local retail businesses that would help pave the way for Joe’s parents to pursue the American Dream, something Joe talked about often with his children and grandchildren. After graduating from Temple High School in 1953, Joe went on to attend The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a business degree in 1958 and a law degree in 1960. Joe served his country for six months as an officer in the US Army and over seven years in the Reserves. Joe then had a successful career as an attorney for 48 years, including 11 years heading up his own firm specializing in oil & gas and corporate law. Joe spent the last 17 years of his career as a tenured professor of law at the Texas Wesleyan School of Law, now Texas A&M Law School. While a professor, Joe wrote several law review articles and authored two books. He was especially proud of his Primer on the Laws of Oil & Gas in Texas, which was known for summarizing the basics of the law in a simple thorough way, and for his Business Associations in a Nutshell, another succinct but reliable book written to convey complicated legal issues to students of all backgrounds. Joe met the love of his life at the age of 29 when he was working as a young lawyer in Chicago, Illinois. Joe and Denise spent their first few years together living in Chicago, where she was from, before relocating to Texas in 1970 where they would spend the rest of their years together and raise three children. They were married for 59 years and were blessed to also have 5 grandchildren. Joe’s memory will be cherished by his wife Denise; his youngest son, Brian; oldest son, Ron; and daughter, Randi; as well as daughters-in-law Michelle and Kayla; and grandchildren Sari, Danny, and Jessica Shade, and Ethan and Emme Shade-Shell. Private graveside services were held Sunday, May 26th. Joe was passionate about Israel and would appreciate in lieu of flowers that donations be made in his memory to JNF (Jewish National Fund).

Joseph Shade

October 9, 1935 - May 24, 2024