This man was a giant among men. Not only was he large in stature but he was large in heart and spirit. He was a man who was strong of mind and will but also kind and patient. He was gentle and loving, firm but just. He was a man that others would seek out for his advice or ask for his help with anything from financial help to building a piece of furniture, to replacing a hot water heater to building a shed or siding a house. He never hesitated or failed to help when someone asked for it.
He wasn’t a man that knew how to show his emotions easily but he knew how to make them felt by everyone he loved through his actions and words. He wasn’t perfect but none of us would trade the time we had with him for anything in all the world. His name was Joseph Paul Corgan.
Joe was born on September 29, 1947 to Paul and Rosemary Corgan. He was the first of four children Paul and Rosie would have. After Joe came his brother and two sisters Mike, Kathy and Chris. Joe’s strength of character was evident at a young age when he went to live with and look after his grandmother when his grandfather passed away while he was in high school. He graduated Alma high school where to this day he still holds the school record for shotput.
After high school, Joe went to college at Michigan State University where he graduated with a bachelors in mechanical engineering.
Joe met his future wife Roxanne through their mutual friends, Jerry and Chuck Reeves in the winter of 1969. Two years later, on September 10, 1971 they were married.
On August 25, 1973 Joe and Roxie’s world changed forever. On that date, Joe became a father when his son Joe was born. Joe and Roxie’s family quickly grew when their second child James was born on September 15, 1974. On December 14, 1976 Joe and Roxy had their first daughter Sarah. With their family well established, they were blessed with another daughter Laura who was born on March 1, 1980.
Joe was a very loving and caring father. His children tried his patience countless times and he never failed to exercise self restraint and patients when dealing with us at such times. His family was his whole world at that point and he would do what ever it meant to raise, protect and provide for them.
As time marched on, Joe’s children grew up and had families of their own and brought others into the family’s fold. His oldest son married Michelle. His son Jim married Leslie, his daughter Sarah is in a relationship with Rob and his daughter Laura married Quenton.
To Joe’s delight, their first grandchild, Maddie, was born on December 19, 2006. With in a few months his second grand daughter Isabella was born on February 19, 2007. Joe was in all his glory after his first two grandchildren came along. He was soon to be blessed with many more. After Isabella came Cadence, Patrick, Paulie, Gracie and Jacob.
Like any Grandfather, Joe delighted in spoiling and spending time with his grandkids. They would host “sleepovers” for all of them at once and let them play in the pool all day if the sleepover was during summer. At night they would make popcorn and watch movies. Gracie once said that when she gets old, she wants a pool so she can make memories for her grandkids and in Jacob’s words, “This is the best sleepover ever!”
Joe may not have been the most religious person but he lived his life better than most. Joe always put his family first over his own needs and wants. He made sure his family was loved and cared for physically, financially and spiritually and as a result, his family grew and flourished and learned from the best...from Joe. He will be forever missed and remembered as his family endlessly recounts the tales of the greatest man they ever knew. Joe was called to heaven on October 20, 2020. R.I.P. until we all meet again.
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