Joseph A. Deck

“You’ve no idea how poor we were. The nun made fun of me in second grade because there were holes in my sweater.”

“These jobs were a lot of fun, I mean to tell you.”

"I loved all my children. But God intended me to be a grandfather." — Joseph A. Deck, 1934-2026

Beloved husband of 68 years to Ann (Archibald) Deck, he was a loving father to Joseph F. (Yuhua Song), Daniel, Thomas, John, Francis, Matthew, Mary, Annie Deck-Miller (Nathaniel Miller) and Paul, and cherished grandfather to Catherine, Robert and Christopher Deck and Sean Miller. Survivors also include his loving sister Ann V. (Deck) Hamilton of Alden, NY, sisters-in-law Judith M. (Walleshauser) Deck of Tonawanda, NY, and Julie (Greenley) Archibald of Greendale, WI, and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Born at his family’s home in the Black Rock area of Buffalo midway through the Depression Era, Joe was the sixth of eight children born to Norbert Charles, a printer and editor, and Gertrude Cecilia (Eimiller) Deck. Industrious and entrepreneurial from an early age, he earned money a penny or two at a time by picking cherries, collecting bottles and delivering groceries for neighbors during his childhood in the University district of Buffalo, where he graduated from St. Joseph’s parish school. A fourth-generation Buffalonian, he went on to graduate from Canisius High School, earning recognition decades later as “The Heart and Soul of the Class of 1952” for his dedicated efforts to keep his classmates connected and informed, as well as the Canisius High School Service Award for 2021.

Graduating from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in Mechanical Engineering, he supported himself with summer jobs for employers including Bethlehem Steel, Semet Solvay Coke, the Ford Assembly Plant and the New York Central and B&O railroads. Newly married to the former Ann Archibald, whom he’d met at Notre Dame, he returned permanently to the Buffalo area in 1957 to work as a technician at Carborundum Co., and later as an application engineer for Worthington Corp. Attending night school while he and Ann raised their large family, he earned an MBA from the University at Buffalo in 1967.

During an 18-year tenure with James W. Simpson Co., a Buffalo-based manufacturers’ representative firm, that began in 1966, Joe helped the company grow to 10 offices and revenues of $22 million, rising from sales representative to Vice President and General Manager, and supporting clients including Bently Nevada Corp. He retired from Management Services Group (MSG), his management consulting firm, in 2003 at age 69. A longtime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he led the ASME Buffalo Section as chairman for 1975.

Longtime parishioners at St. Gregory the Great R.C. Parish in Williamsville, Joe and Ann dedicated many hours to causes associated with Catholic education and support for those in need. Joe was a lector, head of ministry and funeral server at St. Greg’s, and served Catholic Charities of Buffalo as diocesan chairman in 1990 and a volunteer for more than 50 years. For these contributions and many others, Joe and Ann were recognized with the St. Joseph the Worker Award from the Diocese of Buffalo in 1994.

An exacting wordsmith and proofreader, Joe wrote and edited newsletters for causes close to his heart throughout his retirement. His favorite volunteer role was as a reading coach for kindergartners at St. Benedict’s School, where he was known as “Grandpa Deck.” Other volunteer roles included work for the BISON Fund and ASPIRE Charter School.

Beloved by his grandchildren, nieces and nephews as a mentor, confidant and “fun uncle,” Joe was preceded in death by siblings John N., Francis X., Mary C., Gertrude T., Daniel C., and Thomas W. Deck, and by sisters- and brothers-in-law Rosemary (Archibald) Goss, Robert Hamilton, Margaret (Brison) Deck, and George Archibald.

The family extends deep gratitude to Hospice Buffalo for their attentive care and support in Joe’s final days. Memorial visitation will be on Thursday, March 12, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home. Memorial Mass will be on Friday, March 13, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church. Please assemble at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Gregory or to Hospice Buffalo. Online condolences can be shared at www.denglerrobertspernawilliamsville.com.