Thank you to everyone who is here today to pay tribute to my father, William Joseph. I know that many of you had to travel long distances to be here and it is a reflection on Joe that there are so many loving friends and relatives here today. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is David and I am Joe’s, in layman’s terms adoptive son. He took me in and raised me when my biological father failed to raise to the occasion. It is hard to imagine what my life would be like without his guidance and support.

Joe was the hardest working person that I have ever met. He worked hard at his career, harder around the house, but also worked very hard at being a great father, and friend. I remember when I was a child thinking that Joe was a slave driver with the relentless work he made us kids do around the house. I remember one chore on a weekend morning. Joe again had little Joe and I working around the house. At one point instead of carrying paint cans down into the basement as instructed I thought it would be a good idea to toss them down the stairs. When one finally busted open, I can’t even begin to describe how angry he was. Needless to say I spent a long time doing clean up. As an adult I realized it was a life lesson he was teaching us with all those weekend chores. He taught us what hard work really was, how to earn what you want and appreciate what you have and earned. Joe was very intelligent, a realist, and some how was always able to see the big picture and the end result before it happened. He always had a solution to every problem no matter how big or small. As I grew older I often would seek out his wisdom, as I held his opinion in high regard. As many of us know, Joe also had the gift of gab. With this gift he seemed to instantly be able to friend anyone he met and sure could gab with the best of them. He could talk on any topic, and subject and be able