Captain Joseph Matthew Knurowski

Captain Joseph Matthew Knurowski, age 63, of Holly Springs, North Carolina passed away peacefully, watching Game 3 , Panthers at Oilers on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Joe was born on April 17, 1961 in Worcester, MA; he was the son of the late Mitchell Knurowski and the late Kathleen (O'Connor) Knurowski and brother of the late Julie (Knurowski) Bainton.

Joe is survived by his wife of 35 years; Sheila (Moriarty) Knurowski; son: Jay M. Knurowski; and other family and friends.

Joe grew up in Webster MA and was a 1979 graduate of Bay Path Vocational High School. He began his working career as a plumber and transitioned to the Massachusetts Forest Fire Control division. A little fun fact for those who didn't know, part of his duties working for the Fire Service was to don the Smokey the Bear attire, picture that). After leaving the Forest Fire service he worked at Wyman Gordan in the Heat Treat department. Joe was a proud Volunteer Firefighter for the Town of Webster, Engine 4, for many years. Upon moving to North Carolina in 1994, he worked as a plumber briefly, but was able to transition to his dream job as a full time firefighter. After working as an active firefighter for many years, he began work at the Wake County Fire and Emergency Services, as a Training Specialist. In that role he prepared, trained and mentored recruits (scared the daylights out of), as they began their journey serving their communities.

Joe was very involved in Jay's sports activities starting with soccer and his transition to ice hockey at age 4. Joe enjoyed the hockey journey with Jay - games, tryouts, you name it Joe was there! He was particularly proud of Jay's tenacity and work ethic when he played goalie for and graduated from Nichols College in Dudley in 2020.

Joe's family, friends and neighbors were huge part of his life. Parties on the 3rd floor of 75 Lake Street in Webster (epic), favorite hang out Chet & Joes, Fireman's Sunday at the Colonial, Co-hosting Windward Pointe neighborhood pig pickins', traveling to MA and ME to see friends and family, family vacation to Turks & Caicos, countless hockey trips.... he loved it all!

Thank you all for being a part of his life - Joe wouldn't want us to be sad but to remember a life lived, his quote when things got stressful "Pull down your pants and slide on the ice, everything will be ok".

In closing, It is hard to encapsulate a person's life in a few sentences, so we are looking to you to leave a favorite story/memory of Joe or a message of condolence, you may do so below with "Add a Memory".

Services will be held privately; however, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org or St. Jude's Hospital at https://stjude.org