He was born on August 10th, 1931 in Kolut, Yugoslavia. Joseph immigrated with his family to Chicago, Illinois between 1955 and 1958. He proudly served in the U.S. Army before working a long career as a master carpenter. An avid fisherman, Joseph and his wife retired to Fort Myers Beach in 1998.
Joseph is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Hedwig (Hedy), daughter Rosemarie Hughes (Mayer-Semar), granddaughter Alexandra Semar, grandson Philip Semar, and brother Lorenz (Larry) Mayer. He is reunited with his late daughter Barbara Whetstone (Mayer) (1999).
There will be no funeral services at this time, but a mass and Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the near future. The caring staff at Hope Hospice of Fort Myers was invaluable during this time, so the family is asking that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made in Joseph's name to Hope Hospice, www.hopehospice.org/donate