Joseph "Joe" Xavier Gunzelman

Joseph X. Gunzelman, age 97, passed away peacefully in his sleep in early morning hours October 16th, at his Oak Crest Village Residence. Joe was born to Edward and Mary of Baltimore, on 31 May 1925. He married his spouse of 73 + years , Rita F. Gunzelman (preceded in2021). They were married on Thanksgiving Day, 27 November 1947. They had 4 sons, 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Joe is a WWII Veteran with the 25th Infantry of the Pacific Campaign under Colonel Dalton in the Philippines and General McCarthy (Pacific Campaign). Joe was award the Distinguish Infantry Medal for the victory at Balete Pass (also renamed Dalton Pass), Philippines. This battle is the longest continuous (24/7) ongoing conflict in one location to date, from late February 1945 until 13 May 1945. His inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

He was the family patriarch from start to finish. He went to work as a young boy helping his Dad in the Northeast Baltimore meat market on weekends before working for Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company prior to enlisting in the Army and returned there after the War. Dad managed his career up in the Bell Atlantic Phone Company during the 1950s and 1960s, promoted up through mid-management in the 1970s. Simultaneously, after WWII Joe went to night school at Mervo high school for years in the 1950s to get his TV repairman certification. He worked nights and weekends in those early days lifting heavy TV tube sets and repairing them in the family garage while helping his aging Dad on Saturdays who still owned and operated a meat stall business at the Northeast Baltimore Market until 1958. AT&T’s Bell divisions became known as the Baby Bell companies (Verizon) through a government divesture in 1984. During his career, Joe gave back to the community through dedication to his faith as a lecture at church and through his charitable work through Bell’s charitable organization called Telephone Pioneers, where he rose to become the Regional Vice President. Other Civic service included the lifetime membership of the Knight of Columbus (Cardinal Gibbons Counsel) and member of the local Loins Club. Joe retired from AT&T as an executive manager after 47 years in the late 1980s (one company man).

Outside of work, Joe kept a well-groomed lawn with the sons hand-trimming and clean sweeping everything. Family was very important to him. Every weekend, he made sure he took the family out to eat or we visited our in-laws/cousins. More often than not, Mom and Dad would host their parents at the house for dinner and great conversation. There was a summertime backyard Crab feast or two ($5-10 bushels) and competitive cut-throat Crochet games. There were many birthdays and holiday gatherings year-around. Card playing was paramount - always a friendly competitive game of pinochle at the kitchen table with teams between the parents facing-off. Joe did not like calves liver so the 4 sons were spared that dinner ordeal.

Joe is survived by 4 sons; Steve Gunzelman and his late wife Karen of Houston, TX; Greg and Nancy Gunzelman of Woodstock, MD; Mark and Venida Gunzelman of Bowie, MD; and Eric Gunzelman of Herndon, Va; 1 "and only" Grandson, Christopher Gunzelman (wife Ashley); and 7 granddaughters: Jennifer Buckley (husband Blake), Ashley Gunzelman, Amanda Gunzelman, Megan Gunzelman, and Caitlin Walker (husband Danny), and twins, Erica and Amelia Gunzelman; 2 great-granddaughters, Breslin Gunzelman, Adriana Walker, and 2 great-grandsons, Sam Buckley and Everett Walker.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair RD, Nottingham, MD 21236, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. On Thursday, October 27, 2022, visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 AM with service to follow at 11:00 AM, at the funeral home. Mass and inurnment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.