Aniemeke,
I am so sorry and shocked to hear of the passing of Joe. Recently I was hoping to run in to him and discuss the look of his home. I always enjoyed Joe and the times we played tennis together. I appreciated his humor and funny laugh. I also enjoyed working with him as a colleague. He definitely will be missed.
To my shock I saw your address and we just might be neighbors.
My prayers are with you.
Bob Mejer

Dr. Ekemezie Emeka was a warm, joyful, wonderful and very generous man.

He would be greatly missed by all who knew him.

May his Gentle Soul rest in perfect peace and the Good Lord grant his family the strength to bear his loss

Aloysius Anaebonam, PhD
Burlington, MA

Dear Uncle Ekemezie: Your wittiness and generous spirit to family and friends will remain with us. You were always quick with a smile, an encouraging joke, and wisdom. You will be sorely missed.
From your in-law, Jide

Joe (affectionately called) had such an energetic, cheerful and enthusiastic spirit. His memories continue to live with us today. More than thirty (30) years ago, our parents from Liberia had the opportunity to live with Joe and our sister, Emma. During their visit, our parents expressed how they were well accommodated. They mentioned being treated with compassion and kindness. The kindness of Joe and Emma left an indelible mark on their hearts. The generosity they exhibited was profound.

Our parents are now deceased but their sentiments, memories, and kindheartedness they expressed about Joe continue to linger in our hearts today. Joe was naturally a God-given, sympathetic, and caring man to everyone he encountered. He loved people, and people loved him. We regret not expressing enough how much we appreciated him when he was alive for his kindness toward our family. As we celebrate his home going we are reassured that he is being rewarded by our Lord and Savior. Rest in peace Joe as we continue to pray for your peaceful home going.

-Levi Johnson for the Johnson family-

Professor Joseph Ekemezie Emeka was my friend from our teenage years. (It's still awkward and difficult to refer to him in the past tense).
We met at Anam, Nigeria in 1968 during the Nigeria-Biafra war when most people left the cities for rural homelands.
The friendly and boisterous nature of Ekemezie made him to become friends with many, including yours truely. He soon got group's together among them the "Iheleme" boys with their frequent get together at the "Jew Cabin " at Okpokpo. Even before our university years, he had several groups (clubs) where ever he was. I remember during the high school years, his friendship tentacles extended across state line from Asaba in then Bendel State ( where he attended the popular St Patrick's College) to Onitsha in Anambra State. His frequent visits to me at the "ruins " at old market road, Onitsha; group visits to Akunne-Ogbe-Ndida, willie-opalangada, papa ray & papa emma, etc, etc. Ekemezie always lived life to the fullest hence the nickname' chairman of the good time boys (nna ndi idle civilian).
Joe came to USA a couple of years before me but when I came, he received me with open arms and shared his apartment with me for a year and half. The good old years at 316 N. Edwards. He was a very giving person and will share his last dollar with you not minding. He helps all. His red mustang convertible ,then at Western Illinois University, was always taking people places that his other name became "Emeka mustang" at Western Illinois University (western). He was friends with students and faculty alike at Western
Joe had a strong leadership capability. He was the go-to person when the university wanted to pass information to the foreign students
Ekemezie's easy going personality and organizational abilities kept him indispensable at groups that he belonged to. Consequently each group had a unique name for him such as " Ibaramus Ijairo", Tony Thompson E. Or simply E'mezie.
Dianyi (ol boy) Ekemezie, you will be greatly missed by your family and many friends. I am still processing the fact that you are gone. I am sad, very sad.
May the Almighty God receive and protect you soul.
To Ezeanata, Emma and the rest of Prof Joseph Ekemezie Emeka family, please accept our condolences. Your Patriarch did his job by getting you where you are today as contributing members of society. Maintain his legacy. "Ndo ni umu m".
To the entire Emeka Onochie family of Anam, Nigeria, may the good Lord give all of you the fortitude to bear this great loss.
To my good friend, E'mezie, Ibaramus, Tony Thompson E., GOOD BYE.
Be a good and effective advocate for us, your family and friends ,before God Almighty.
REST IN PEACE.

From: Dr. Mbanefo Onyeka
Anam, Nigeria.

I met "Dr. Joe" as a sophomore at Quincy College in a calculus class. While I liked math a lot, his love of learning, math, and life were an inspiration. I loved every one of his classes and it was an honor to have him until I graduated there as well. I saw him a few times after graduating when coming back to QU for homecoming, but not as much I would have liked to. I would love to hear him tell stories about growing up, coming here from Nigeria... From all the adversity and challenges in his life, he was so positive and a great role model. I will cherish those along with his laugh and his ability to find love and joy in life, no matter how tough things get.

And I know that his influence was not just felt by me, but there are many other lives that he has made better. In speaking to people that studied with him or under him, most mention that they remember his smile and his laugh more than anything, and also his passion for learning and life.

There are just a few people in my life that have really helped me form my core values and outlook on life. Dr. Joe is one of those rare people. For the short time that I was his student, it was truly a privilege. Thank you so very much for all you have taught me. May you rest in peace and those whose lives you touched continue to be inspired by you and share that inspiration and love.

An IROKO tree had fallen, your smile will be missed but I will forever cherish the time and memories you had left in me.
  THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!

Chief Dr. Joe Ekemezie Emeka, Afu enyi amalu enyi 1 of Anam mba Issa Duka as I fondly called you.
 I’m still struggling to accept of your sudden demise.
 Your love for football(soccer) brought us together at the Annual Springfield international soccer tournament, ever since then you had became a father figure,uncle, brother and a confidant to me.
Your frequent calls,text messages to me to check on me and my family and to joke with me and discuss what is going on here in the US, Nigeria, Anambra state, Anam and Achalla in particular which is the area we both came from. Your love and care for others was second to none.
The void you left in my heart ,in the heart of your family members, loved ones and friends will be hard to fill.
 My goings to the Springfeld international soccer tournament will not be the same for me again without you there because I always looks forward to seeing you, eating, joking and chatting with you.
Your presence will forever be missed but your Legacy will live Forever on....
We love you but God loves more....
 We loss you on the earth but the heaven received and added another SAINT to their Midst.
Adieu Papa! You had ran a good race. We will someday meet to part no more.
MAY YOUR EVER GENTLE SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE, AMEN!!!

Joe Emeka was a huge part of my husband's student days at Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL. in the early 1970s. As I heard it, Joe -- gregarious, funny, loud and generous to a fault -- was the center of the social life and an instigator of many parties for homesick fellow students.

For years, I didn't know Emeka was his last name. I thought the "Joe" was simply to set him apart from all the other Emekas in my husband's (an Emeka, too) circle of friends. He was my husband's friend, and he became mine, too.

Joe Emeka was the go-to guy among the small band of Nigerian students in Macomb. He was the one who seemed always to have a pack of cigarettes or a six-pack to share or the time to drive someone to the grocery store. He drove a Mustang that seemed always to be going to or coming from Quincy or Springfield or someplace.

On one of those trips, Joe, who apparently had discovered a rock band called Alice Cooper, decided to share the music with his passenger, my husband. Of course, they were not listening to the radio and so failed to hear the tornado warnings until the sky turned ominously dark and a howling wind drowned out Alice Cooper. Joe parked the car. For the first time on that ride, they sat there in silence, scared to death. My husband says that was the closest he ever came to a tornado in Macomb, and he never let Joe Emeka forget that he nearly killed them both because of Alice Cooper.

I never met Joe Emeka in person, but over the years, he became more than a voice on the phone. There was laughter in his voice, an energy and enthusiasm in his greeting that lifted up the spirit. "Eii, nwaye Ghana, how is my brother?" he would begin a conversation. I would turn the phone over to his "brother," and they would chat on and on, reminiscing, sharing the trials and tribulations of their academic careers and updates on family life.

In the past year or so, when he learned that his friend's health was failing, Joe made it a point to call in every month to check up on him and encourage us. And without fail, he would have a recommendation for some Nigerian comic or other that we absolutely had to watch on YouTube.

We did not get a chance to say goodbye. We did not expect a text message announcing that a friend and brother has slipped away.

Joe Emeka, rest peacefully. You made such a difference in the time God gave you here.

Emeka and Laura