Eldon, Jeff Behrens, Nancy Kieraldo, and Shawn

This year we were able to provide 4 scholarships toward musical studies. Kassidy and Eylse were awarded $500 each to participate at a 2023 summer music camp of choice. Shawn and Eldon were awarded $1000 each to study music at the college or university of choice. Congratulations!
And a big thank you to Jeff Behrens, DDHD graduate and Richland Center HS band director, for his continued support of these scholarships to deserving high school band students.

Tony, Mike and I are pleased to announce the first memorial scholarship in honoring Joe's life-time career in public school music education. Richland Center High School senior Aiden Culver is an accomplished pianist and composer and plays french horn in the Symphonic Band. He will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison in the fall. His intention is to continue his study of music while at the university. Congratulations Aiden!

Thanks to the cooperation and direction of Jeff Behrens, Delavan-Darien Class of 1983 and Richland Center High School director of bands, we were pleased to sponsor a clinic opportunity with the Richland Center Concert and Symphonic Bands the past week in honor of Joe Kieraldo. Dr. Thomas Wubbenhorst worked with both groups during the week and conducted Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams and the Second Suite in F for Military Band by Gustav Holst at the final concert on May 9, 2022. Dr. Wubbenhorst was director of bands at the University of Whitewater 1984-87 and was influential in Jeff's college music experience at that time. Thank you both and thank you all that contributed to Joe's Memorial Fund.

Many of you who were present at Joe's Celebration of Life on August 15 got a chance to hear two of Tony's newest compositions from his Hudson Ragtime Suite. Written in the heart of the 2020 pandemic, these five ragtime pieces are named after the five main eat-west streets in Hudson, NY and are dedicated to Joe.  Check out Tony's website tonykieraldo.com and learn how you can pre-order your vinyl, digital and/or music book today!

Thank you all who were able to make it to Joe's Celebration of Life on August 15, 2021. What a wonderful tribute to Joe, a man who loved life and was well loved! The weather, venue, food, music and stories made it a memorable day for our family. Special shout out goes to the soaring bald eagle spotted by many flying high above the pavilion during the music session. Perhaps it was Joe......if so, BRAVO for selecting an animal that has excellent eye sight!

On behalf of myself, Tony, Chloe, Louise, Mike and Susan, we'd like to thank you all from the bottom of our heart. The following people helped make the day possible:

Drew Fleming, owner of Original Pancake House on University Ave. in Madison, for catering the event. The sandwiches were OUTSTANDING! You rocked it out of the park, Drew! All we can say to everyone near and far. EAT BREAKFAST AT OPH! You won't ever go anywhere else again!
Jeff Behrens, former student from DDHS Class of 1983, who organized the program and brought all the music equipment for the jam session! Jeff's a lifelong friend and band director at Richland Center High School. We'll take a break for awhile and then start planning a jazz residency program in Joe's name at your high school in the 2021-22 school year!
Gary Behrens, former student from DDHS Class of 1985, emcee and vocalist with the Avenue band. Gary, perhaps your second career should be on the road singing your heart out! Great job!
Tony and Louise Kieraldo, son and granddaughter who played so beautifully for Tata! Tony's new LP and Music Book, "Hudson Ragtime Piano Suite" will be published in the fall. If interested in getting a copy, PM message him on Instagram or send me an email. He will make sure you get a copy.
Scott Schmidt, former student from DDHS Class of 1987, who brought and played keys with the Avenue band. Charma Davies Lepke would be so proud of you, as is Joe!
Dick Severing, lifelong friend and colleague, who provided the guitar for Louise and sat in with the Avenue, on his rock concert debut! We love you, Marie and all your family!
Nancy Anderson, former student Monroe HS class of 1972, who played two great saxophone jazz pieces! Beautifully done! Joe would approve!
Larry Hubbard, Madison friend who sang "My Way". Thanks Larry!
Carol Heibel and Cathy Ross Van Buren, former students from Joe's HS in Brandon/Fairwater. Thanks for sharing the memorabilia from his first high school from 1963-66.
Kirsten Kundert and Bob Gordee, former students from Monroe, HS. Thanks for displaying and sharing the memorabilia from his second high school from 1967-76. 
Kathy Loudon and Connie Amon, former students from Delavan Darien High School. Thanks for organizing and sharing the memorabilia from Joe's third high school from 1978-2000.
Paul Ketchpaw, lifelong friend from Elkhorn, WI who shared Joe's memorabilia from his early years! Thanks, Ketch...... we will see you the first!

Many neighbors and friends helped by bringing food and/or loaning equipment. Thank you Joan and Doug, Marsha and Bruce, Barb and Harry, Bob and Cindy, Dave and MaryJo, Kathy and Mike. And thanks to all of you who shared stories. I know that each and everyone of us has a "Joe story" in their pocket. Continue to share those stories throughout the years!

It was a beautiful day, thanks to all of you! Joe is smiling and so are we!!!

All who knew Joe understood his passion and commitment to jazz and jazz education. If you would like to give a gift in Joe's name, he would like you to consider the following jazz institutions that he enjoyed and supported over the years:

Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Program, Interlochen, Michigan

WORT FM - Community Radio Station, Madison, WI

Any cash or checks made out to Nancy Kieraldo will be deposited in an account to support a 2021-22 Jazz Residency Program for the Richland Center High School Jazz Program, Jeff Behrens, band director (DDHS class of 1983) 

Make sure you turn on the background music feature. We were able to upload SOME of Joe's favorite music. Here are the details of the tracks:
1.  "Angry" Freddy D and the Pearls: 1959; You can hear Joe's voice at the beginning of the recording; Whitey takes the excellent piano solo
2.  "Country Boy" Freddy D and the Pearls: 1959; Joe takes the solo on tenor sax
3.  "Black and White Rag" George Botsford: Milk Money 2019, Tony Kieraldo piano, bass drums, high hat 
4. "Everything Old is New Again": Vern Castle and the Last Dance Band; Joe played Tenor Sax with this big band group in the 80's
5. "Irish Tune form County Derry": arr. Percy Grainger, Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra
6. "Serenade in B flat; "Gran Partita" K361-Finale; Mozart, Netherlands Wind Ensemble - Edo de Waart
7. "Fly Me to the Moon": Frank Sinatra (anything Sinatra, but add the Count Basie Big Band and you have complete perfection)
8. "St. James Infirmary": Turk Murphy (Joe knew all the words and sang this song often)
9. "Auntie Skinners Chicken Dinner" Bob Schulz Frisco Band (Wisconsin boy, Bob Schulz, hit it big when he joined Turk Murphy's band in 1979. His cornet and vocals are sublime.)
10. "When the Saints Go Marching In" The Weavers at Carnegie Hall (Joe really admired this musical group and their politics!)
11. "When I'm Sixty-Four" The Beatles (difficult to select just one Beatle's tune)
12: "Caravan" Oscar Peterson, piano, Joe Pass - guitar, Ray Brown - bass (Joe introduced Tony to Oscar early. Tony's still listening!)
13. "Stompin' at the Savoy" Ella Fitzgerald, vocals, Louis Armstrong, vocals and trumpet, Oscar Peterson, piano, Herb Ellis, guitar, Ray Brown, bass, Louis Bellson, drums (You can't beat this combination of talent) Ella and Louis Again- Verve 1957
14. Movin' Out: Billy Joel (Joe loved Billy Joel and played this song often the last few months)
15. Piano Man: Billy Joel (A favorite)
16. "A Baby Just Like You" John Denver and the Muppets (Joe held baby Tony in his arms  listening to this song many years ago. He could never listen again without crying!)
17. "Varsity" Gounod arr. Lekrone (Joe was always proud to be a Badger and his friendship with Mike Lekrone)
18. "America" Ray Charles (Finally, a salute to Joe's passion for American politics and our country. No one sings it better than Ray Charles)

Joseph Ross Kieraldo was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 12, 1941. He hated his middle name, as did his father (understandably), because it was in honor of his mother’s former boyfriend! The following story of the life and times of Joe Kieraldo has been pieced together from the many stories Joe told. I have no idea if all of this is completely accurate, but as I always understood, when it came to Joe’s stories, you “should never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

Joe’s first family began with the joining in marriage of father John Henry Kieraldo to mother Santina Garetto Kieraldo in Chicago in 1928. Joe was named after his maternal grandfather, Joseph Garetto, a delicatessen proprietor who was much beloved in the Italian neighborhood of Roseland, on the south side of Chicago. Apparently, Joe Garetto had the gift of the gab (well, we know who got that gift), and was known to leave day-old bread in a place that hungry neighbors could access for free during the Great Depression. Joe Garetto died in the mid-1940s from an infection that could easily be cured with antibiotics today. It was said that his funeral cortege lasted for blocks. 

Joe’s maternal grandmother, Giovanna Garetto, ran her family with an iron fist. She would walk into a bar with a coin under her thumb and order the bartender to offer drinks-on-the-house, but she got “top-shelf.” The bartender knew to never actually take the coin. Joe’s dad, John Kieraldo, reported that, “Giovanna tried to join the army, but they wouldn’t take her because she fought too dirty.” 

Joe’s paternal grandmother, Henrietta Kieraldo, immigrated from Europe in 1911 with her husband and three children (Joe’s father was six at the time). They had three more children in the next decade while living in Chicago. Paternal grandfather John had his own tailor shop in Chicago but apparently abandoned his family around 1922 for another woman. Henrietta was left to raise her children by herself with the able help of teenager John (Joe’s dad). No one ever really talked about the father after he left. Apparently, he was even denied access to John’s and Santina’s 1928 wedding. 

One year later, Joe’s older brother, John Henry Kieraldo, was born in Chicago. Joe Garetto’s delicatessen helped all survive the Great Depression. John Kieraldo became employed as a cosmetic chemist with the Franco American Cosmetic Company, where he was in charge of making perfume. His legal access to alcohol during prohibition as a perfume maker made John quite a popular friend as he made very tasty bootleg gin! A devoted gin and vodka drinker for the rest of his life, he often reported that all his friends who drank brown liquor were already dead! Joe’s father had five siblings: Elizabeth, Casmir (Jack Crandall), Lee, Donna, and Pearl (Delores/Dee). Dee was his absolute favorite, and the feeling was mutual! Joe said that Grandma Henrietta gave Dee a one-way bus ticket to New York CIty when she was 18, and six months later she was a Rockette. She had a varied and exotic career in the entertainment industry on Broadway and Hollywood. Her very best friend was Angela Landsbury. We owe a lot to Dee and her sister Donna, including quite a bit of celebrity artifacts. 

Santina was a happy homemaker in the 30s and early 40s with baby John keeping her busy. She enjoyed the constant community of her three sisters, Francis, Catherine (Nina), and Mary, her parents, and many Italian neighbors. Joe was born in August, 1941, just a few months before Pearl Harbor. 

They remained in Chicago throughout WWII. In1946, Santina had the idea that the “neighborhood was changing,” so she decided that it was time to find a more idyllic setting to raise her youngest son, Joe. She found a 100-some acre farm in the city limits of Elkhorn, Wisconsin for $11,500. At the closing, Santina renegotiated the final price for $500 less. She was very crafty when it came to money negotiations. (Just ask George Breber, Sr., a music store owner in Elkhorn who often stated that Santina was the only one who negotiated for a musical instrument and got the better deal). After the move to Elkhorn, Joe’s father continued to commute to Chicago until he settled into the life of a farmer. Imagine a city boy learning the ropes of farming in his 40s! Joe’s brother John moved to Elkhorn for his senior year in high school. His academic success allowed him to pursue a career in medicine, graduating from the University of Wisconsin in the 1950s. It was there that he met his future wife, Marie Baines, a nurse. Together with his wife Marie, he raised five children: Lisa, Rosanne, John, Carla, and Amy. In 1977, at the age of 48, John Kieraldo, a noted surgeon in Palo Altos, California succumbed quickly to pancreatic cancer. 

Joe had such fond memories of growing up in little Elkhorn. in the 1950s. So many wonderful memories and stories to tell! I think it would be better served if classmates tell it in their own words in the remembrance section. But I will say that all these wonderful stories relate most to his life-long friendships with Paul “Ketch” Ketchpaw (buddies since third grade) and James “Whitey” Minette, a gifted pianist with shared love of traditional jazz. Joe and Whitey both embraced traditional jazz music at a time when rock ‘n roll was all the rage. (They were proud card carrying members of TEHOA-The Elvis Haters of America.) Together they formed their own music bands: “Whitey’s Washington Street Stompers” and “Freddie D. and the Pearls,” the band that recorded their one and only 45 record: “I’m Just a Country Boy/Angry” in 1959. There are countless stories of Joe and Whitey listening to the jazz stars of the day, including a marvelous story of them sneaking into a Louis Armstrong concert at the Rivieria in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Underage at the time, they were about to be thrown out by the bouncer until Louis himself intervened and said, “Let those young boys in here!” After shaking Louis’s hand, Joe said he didn’t wash his hands for a week!



The decade closed with high school graduation in 1959 and new adventures on his way to college at the dawn of a new decade. 

Joe Kieraldo: Tenor Saxophone
Jim Boardman: Cornet
Ronnie Pauls: Drums
Jack Hill: tuba
Roger Van Scotter, guitar
Whitey Minette: piano
Jim Curley, trombone

Roger Van Scotter, drums
Whitey Minette, piano
Joe Kieraldo: tenor saxophone
Joe Riding: guitar
Freddie D: vocals

What does an 18-year-old young man do when he arrives at UW Whitewater? PARTY! Let’s just say, Joe’s first year of college was not a smashing success (except for all the beer drinking). He was mortified when his own MOTHER called his college advisor after his first semester netted a less-than-stellar grade average. He still had shivers down his spine when he recalled a trip to the Elkhorn post office at winter break when his father pointed to the Army Recruiting Poster with Uncle Sam pointing, “We Want YOU!” “Hey, kid! If you don’t make it, I’ll take you down here myself, and they can make something out of you!” That statement had more of a lifelong impact than a meddling mother, to be sure!

Sophomore year Joe was headed to the tiny liberal arts school at Milton College in Milton, Wisconsin. It had no dorms or dining plan, but it had a stellar music department.  Best friend Whitey Minette had enrolled there two years prior. The small college campus and wonderful music professors (Dr. Bernhardt Westlund, choral music, Dr. Irwin Sonenfield, music theory and Louis Dalvet, band director and Instrumental winds teacher.) Milton College changed the trajectory of his life and career forever. Also netted from this undergraduate college experience was the introduction to another life-long friend, Richard “Dick” Severing. Fate would have it that some 13 years later they would become music colleagues at Delavan-Darien High School (1977-2000) (Joe- band director; Dick-choral director).

Joe’s first teaching contract was offered to him in 1964 in the front seat of a huge car owned by the Superintendent of Brandon/Fairwater Public School District, “Tiny” Landfere. “Tiny” had done some scouting and heard about this recently graduated music teacher who seemed like he would be a good fit for Tiny’s district. Joe jumped at the chance and away he went, along with his new bride from Door County, Gail Geiger, to teach music to all the K-12 students in the district. It got very real for him the first week when he asked the kindergarten class to write down whether the second pitch that he played on the piano was higher or lower than the first. Finally, the teacher told him that that direction may be a little bit of a problem because they didn’t know how to write “high” or “low” yet. 


His love for his students and passion for music garnered a very high participation rate in the band program. He remembered fondly the local community, the church choirs he directed, and his summer job at the local canning company. We visited the area on his birthday in August 2020. The canning factory (although it’s only frozen food now) is still there! He enjoyed three wonderful years in the Brandon/Fairwater School District. In 2018, he was invited by two of his music students, (twins Carol and Cathy), to attend the Brandon all-high school reunion. As a side note in the small world category, Carol Heibel hired me (wife Nancy) in 2000 at Glendale Elementary School in the Madison School District to become the school librarian. She shared with me at the end of the interview her strong fondness of her former high school band director, Joe Kieraldo.

For the next 10 or so years, Joe’s career led him to Monroe High School in Monroe, Wisconsin. Both he and Gail were offered teaching positions in the district. They bought a house and settled down with his beloved dog, Milton. Joe loved his job in Monroe and poured all of his energy into sharing music with “those great kids.” Many life-time friendships resulted from that tenure and are too many to note in this brief accounting. However, he had a very special relationship with the family of Mary Prucha Wilson and her wonderful children Daniel (Carol Shiner Wilson), Marjorie (Bob Streich), and Stuart (Melissa Barker). Also, Ann and Tony Serpe remain life-long friends that go back all the way to their first days in Monroe. A decade later, Joe and Ann became teaching colleagues again when they both taught at Delavan-Darien High School. Tony became the Superintendent of Schools in the Elkhorn School District, Joe’s hometown. Also noteworthy, Joe became politically active in 1968 as a protest of the Vietnam War. He co-chaired the Eugene McCarthy for President campaign in Green County. 

Joe enjoyed repeated invitations to Monroe class reunions. We went when we could, and he was always surprised at the many “kids” that wanted to reconnect with him again. I’ll let them share their own stories of the crazy half-time shows, the time he got a technical foul at a basketball game for having his band play “Three Blind Mice,” and all of the glorious music played at the many concerts.

In 1976, Joe took a leave of absence from Monroe to serve as a teaching assistant in the Band Department at UW Madison. Joe took the opportunity to explore new education opportunities after Gail and Joe agreed to a divorce. Joe tells the story of meeting Mike Lekrone the first week he arrived on campus in the late 1960s. Mike and Joe had a long professional relationship for some 50+ years. (Joe just finished a four week online course from Mike last month on the Big Band Era). Again, many lasting friendships and wonderful experiences, too numerous to count..

The summer of 1978 found Joe fresh out of graduate school and low on money from his recent divorce and a year collecting only a teaching assistant salary. In the summer of 1978, Whitey married musician/music teacher, Delavan native, Bonnie Lagg. The four of us enjoyed a lasting relationship raising our two families with fond memories of our trips to the Lagg family cabin in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota. We had the honor of becoming god-parents in 1979 to their daughter, Sarah. A talented musician and music educator, Sarah earned her doctorate in Music Education from Arizona State University in 2018 and teaches at Minneapolis South High School and courses at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. We are as proud of her as her parents!


At Whitey and Bonnie’s 1978 wedding in Whitewater, Joe learned of a new high school band position that just opened up in Delavan-Darien from George Venema, the middle school band director who knew Joe in Monroe. Joe got the position, moved to a rental house in Lake Geneva, and began to get ready for the school year in August. It was then that Joe and I met. I was one of two band directors at Phoenix Middle School (I had been hired the year before), and we began meeting often as the district band music department. Little did I know at the time, my first handshake with Joe sent a “cupid’s arrow” direct to his heart. It took him almost four months to ask me out. Our first date was on December 1st, 1978 and we became unofficially engaged one week later. I say unofficial because no one knew we were dating, including my parents who lived in nearby Lake Geneva! A month of “shock and awe” from our family, colleagues, and students turned into plans for our wedding on July 7, 1979. Great wedding memories include the DDHS a capella choir, under the direction of Dick Severing, surrounding the wedding guests singing Mendelssohn’s “Heilig/Holy” and our recessional music, the theme to “The Muppet Show” played by a DDHS high school brass quintet. 


The 22 Delavan-Darien years resulted in building a busy life together. Careers, the death of Joe’s parents, buying two houses and, of course, the greatest gifts: the birth of our son Tony (Anthony) in 1982 and Mike (Michael) in 1984. As anyone can attest juggling a busy life with young children, the years are a blur, sprinkled with many wonderful friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, students, and life events. Important, lasting friendships include Dick and Marie Severing, Marty and Margaret Kane, neighbors Al and Laura Meyer, and DDHS orchestra director Darlene and husband, Mark Rivest. I’m positive that you will find many entries from all of our connections in Delavan in the remembrance section. 


Living in Delavan and Darien all those years allowed us to be in close proximity to my parents, Manny (Manford) and Jan (Jeannette) Kirchoff. They lived and owned/operated a greenhouse and florist business in Lake Geneva and Elkhorn. Our sons have wonderful memories going to their house for Christmas Eve as well as the many trips to the Elkhorn business. Also close, was my sister Mary and her first husband, Steve Winter, residents of East Troy, Wisconsin and their two sons, Alexander and Hayden. Joyful holidays sometimes brought the addition of my brother Mark and his first wife Stacy Krueger Kirchoff and their two daughters Courtney and Caitlin Kirchoff who traveled from Cincinnati. Celebrations depended on our close relationship to my parents and sister’s family for many years. 


In 2001, my sister Mary relocated to Seattle, Washington with her two sons and ex-husband Steve Winter. Mary remarried in Seattle in 2009 to another Wisconsin native, Mark Hamilton, an optometrist. Mark Kirchoff remarried Vanessa Fite from the Cincinnati area in 2006. They welcomed daughter McKenzie in 2007.


A special relationship close to our heart was in 1991-92 when we invited foreign exchange student Helena Nykvist from Sweden to our family! What wonderful memories! We continue to stay in close contact after all these years and had a reunion five years ago when Helena’s entire family visited the US/Canada. Married to Jan Tjornstrand, an orthopedic surgeon, they are busy raising three children, Erik, Marta, and Helga, while she manages her law career as a judge in Malmo City Court.

No one was more proud than Joe to have son Tony in his high school bands for his freshman and sophomore year. Tony played trombone in Concert, Marching/Pep Band and jazz piano in Jazz Band. Tony graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2000. He studied there his last two years of high school.

Youngest son Mike also had his Dad as high school band director his freshman year. Mike played bassoon in Concert Band, bass drum in Marching/Pep band and keyboards in Jazz Band. Joe retired at the end of the year and we moved to Madison. Mike graduated from Madison West High School in 2003.

Major eye health issues in the late 1990s made it apparent that it would be difficult for Joe to continue his career at the level of excellence he wanted to maintain. Colleague Dick Severing, the choir teacher at DDHS, both retired in June 2000. Tony was on his way to studying music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston (after graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan) I was traveling 50 miles each way to my position as a school librarian in New Berlin, Wisconsin. We decided to move closer to my job so I could cut back on all the commuting. Mike was willing to change to a new high school in his sophomore year and later in the spring of 2000 I was hired to take an elementary school library position for the Madison Metropolitan School District. We were on our way to living in the place we ALL wanted to live, Madison!


Mike graduated from West High School in Madison, Wisconsin in 2003 and from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota in 2007. I never could convince him to attend any of his graduation ceremonies. When Tony turned 21 in 2003, he left the New England Conservatory to make his way in the music world in the Big Apple, New York City.


We are so proud of the men they are today: bright, capable, caring, and engaged citizens of the world! Tony married in 2008 and two years later made us grandparents to our amazing granddaughter, Louise Kieraldo, the love of our life. Divorced in 2013, he met a local woman from the Hudson, New York area and remarried in May 2019. Chloe Caldwell authors and publishes nonfiction books and articles and teaches writing to adults. Together they make their home in Hudson and co-parent Louise, blending their parenting style with his ex wife Lizzie West and new husband, Matt Bua. Tony’s entrepreneurial music experience includes amazing opportunities as a gifted and versatile pianist (gigs in the White House - Obama Years, Tanglewood), and travel opportunities to China, Europe, Lebanon, Venezuela, and Peru. He also taught himself valuable technical skills in social media management, website creation, audio and video editing. He loves creating crazy one-minute video productions on what he calls “Minute Rags.” Crazy costumes and eclectic video editing don’t hide the fact that you are listening to an amazingly gifted and creative musician. 


Mike is an entrepreneur in the wind industry, a trade he first learned working for other companies in the Madison area for 10 years. He created PowerShare Energy Cooperative, a renewable energy services company, with two partners in 2015. Most of his work entails installing and maintaining meteorological towers needed for wind data collection. His work has taken him to over 40 States, sometimes in the most brutal conditions (Desert Hot Springs this summer at 115 degrees).  Susan Lund, his partner of almost 10 years, is an attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin, a non-profit law firm dedicated to serving Wisconsin residents in need of free civil legal services. Together they live in a duplex with dog Ginger in Milwaukee. 


Joe had a blessed and satisfying 20 years of retirement. Who wouldn’t love having a younger wife work to support your habit of making new friends? And that he did! He loved hanging out every morning with his coffee-drinking buddies at Ancora Coffee Shop. Retirement for this group has expanded to include all the spouses now: Marsha and Bruce Gregg, Harry Moen and Barb Anderegg, Doug and Joan Pahl, John and Sally Ralph, and Larry Hubbard. Dr. Jim Schultz and Duane Willadsen are up there now drinking endless cups of coffee with Joe as we speak. Joe also opened many other social opportunities with friends in Madison, as well. Special friendships include Dave Graves and Mary Jo Domenichetti, Drew Fleming and the gang at his Original Pancake House Restaurant on University Ave, Penny and Jerry Koerner and neighbors Mike and Kathy Lipp and Bob and Cindy Battista.  Of course, Joe’s reach included so many other friends and acquaintances throughout the years that I’m sure that I’ve left out many. Please forgive any errors and/or omissions. Just know that Joe loved and valued everyone’s friendship and support throughout the years. Thank you, all!

Finally, Joe’s passing on Friday evening, October 23rd, was a shock to all of us. Joe often made two declarations: “I loved my career working with all these amazing students. I never really worked a day in my life” and, “If I die tomorrow, I’ve lived a full life with my three loves: Nancy, Tony, and Mike”. It was a sudden, calm death without trauma. Wouldn’t we all want to go that way? The best words I can say about our beloved Joe is, “He loved well and was well loved!”

Joe’s favorite quote:
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

With love and gratitude,
Nancy
Tony, Chloe, and Louise
Mike and Susan