Joseph Stanley Wasielewski

Joseph (Joe) was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 22, 1938 to Joseph and Helen Wasielewski. He had two sisters, JoAnne and Stephanie (who survives Joe today). They grew up in the Hamtramck suburb of Detroit. He often told stories of his best friends from various “ethnic” neighborhoods in Detroit during that time. His neighborhood was primarily woven with families who immigrated from Poland and Italy. He spoke of the fierce loyalty he and his friends had for each other; this loyalty would later in his life translate to those with whom he served in the U.S. Army. When Joe was around six years old, his father won an accordion in a poker game he frequently participated in with friends after work. From that day, Joe would gain his passion for music. He learned the accordion to near expert level. He would play the accordion with his father, performing classical favorites to crowds from his church and local community. From his skill with the accordion, he learned to play the organ so well he would play masses and services for the local cathedral. He served as an altar boy during his younger years as well. As soon as Joe was old enough to work, he was driven to do so. He worked with his father to repair televisions and other electronic equipment. One of his favorite jobs was selling women’s shoes at the local shoe store to a devoted clientele who appreciated his attention to detail and friendly smile. He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan where he graduated with honors and discovered his drive for electrical engineering. He rose to the ranks of Commander of the Junior ROTC program there and earned the superlative, “Most Likely to Succeed.” Following Cass, he and his best friend attended Michigan Technological University where he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering and was drafted while trying to finish his degree. He convinced the U.S. Army to grant him a direct commission as an officer since he had been in the ROTC program for so many years. The Army agreed to commission him as a second lieutenant. He served in Vietnam where his best friend with whom he attended Michigan Tech died while flying U.S. Marines into battle. He lost many friends while serving there, speaking to very few people about the pain he suffered from those losses. He went on to serve 26 years in the Army, achieving the impressive rank of Colonel, despite not ever having finished an advanced degree. While serving in Stuttgart, Germany on one of his early tours, he met Monika Hauptmann, a German national working as a translator for the American Army, who would become his wife of 58 years. They have two children, Elizabeth Denny (husband, David Denny of Tampa), who retired after a successful 30 year teaching career, and Annette Ortiz (husband Carlos Ortiz of Santa Fe, NM), who retired after a 28 year career in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by three grandchildren, Adam Huntley, (of Tampa) Sofia Ortiz (husband Kenny Mejia of Reston, VA) and Carlos Ortiz (of Oklahoma City, OK).