Joseph L. Genet

Joseph (Joe) Leo Genet took his final honor flight to be with our Lord on December 26, 2024. Joe was born in Barberton, Ohio, on March 4, 1928, to the late Bertha (Dickerhoff) and Fred Genet. He was the seventh of eight children and the youngest boy. Joe loved to tell stories of his family and growing up in Barberton. He was very proud to live in Barberton and he called it home his entire life. Joe worked at Seiberling Tire & Rubber Co. and retired with 38 years of service after it closed in 1980.  He later worked for 10 years at the City of Akron Recycle Plant. Joe was the beloved husband of Margaret (Pestie) Pasternak Genet for nearly 67 years who preceded him in death in 2021.  He was the loving father of Fred (Kit) Genet, Peggy (Rich) Goe, Joani (Scott) Hedderick, Bob (Irene) Genet, and Jeanie (Ken) Cunningham.  He was cherished by his grandchildren Lauren (Ray) Rupprecht, Angela (Nick) Kaiser, Charlie (Cassidy) Goe, Carson Cunningham, Elliot (Nisha Orren) Goe, Kenny Cunningham, Morgan Genet, Conner (Sarah Shaheen) Hedderick, Bryan Hedderick, Grant (Kelly) Cunningham, Hanna (Casey) Torda, Carly Cunningham, and great-grandfather to Ensley and Emersen Rupprecht, Avery and Adelaide Kaiser, Renin Goe, and Crew Cunningham.  He was the loving godfather of Carol (Bob) Macko, Patrick (Edna) Boyle and Maryann (Steve) Struckel and considered Ryan (Annkelly) and Jeremy Struckel as additional grandchildren. After trying to join the Navy at 15 and being rejected, he successfully joined two days after turning 17 years old. He proudly served his country for eight years in WWII and the Korean conflict.  He was honorably discharged, well decorated, and medically retired.  He was proud of the men with whom he served, and his friendships and memories were embedded forever in his heart. Days prior to his 1951 re-enlistment, he met his future wife, Margaret Pasternak, at a birthday party he crashed.  Typical of the time, they had a corresponding romance and married three years later.  A trunkful of love letters existed in their attic until found by their teenage daughters. In a beautiful celebration of love, Joe and Margaret exchanged vows and began their lifelong journey together on April 24, 1954. Joe’s military pride was readily apparent.  Rarely seen without his Veterans cap, he gladly accepted invitations to veteran events and speaking engagements whether for elementary children or historical interviews. He worked tirelessly as a co-chair fundraising for the restoration of the Barberton Military Honor Roll and he consistently attended the USS Wisconsin ship reunions in Norfolk, VA, for over 25 years, including this past September.  As the sole WWII veteran, he wheeled himself around the ship greeting and socializing with other veterans and their families.  In 2021, Joe proudly flew on his second military honor flight to Washington DC. Joe was always busy.  He was a life member of both VFW Post 1066 and Disabled Veterans.  He served on the VFW scholarship committee for 8 years and was an active member of Sokols Lodge 167 since 1963.  He was a Moose 759 member since 1985.  Joe was a long-time member of St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church until it closed then he attended Prince of Peace.  He was also a member of Slovene Center where he and Margaret bowled together for 37 years. If Joe wasn’t at home with his family and it was before noon, he was most likely golfing, his second true love.  He had a lifetime membership to Spring Hills Golf Club, where he regularly played four times a week.  He had his first and only hole in one at age 86 playing with sons, Fred, and Bob, and son-in-law, Ken, at Amelia Island, Florida.  He attended a Master’s practice round with Ken and continued playing golf until age 92 when he had his second hip fracture. Joe moved in with Bob and Irene in 2019 where he spent almost 4 years of being spoiled daily by Irene’s cooking, card playing, and late nights reminiscing about his wife, childhood, and days in the Navy. Joe had a revolving door of friends and family that would come sit with him and share a cold beer and just talk about how good life is. Irene held a special place in Joe’s heart that didn’t need to be said but could be felt. Another one of Joe’s favorite past times was watching Cleveland Sports, specifically the Cleveland Guardians. Beginning in 2009, Bob would take Joe each year to spring training in Arizona to watch the players get ready for the season and stay with Bob’s sister-in-law, Sue Jorde, who would host and dote on him. In typical Joe fashion, he would get the VIP treatment and get to meet the athletes, coaches, and former players. Joe planned to attend again in 2025. Joe loved many things, but he adored his 12 grandkids. He was so proud of all their accomplishments and achievements. He traveled far and wide to make sure his grandkids knew their Papa was in the stands supporting them. Joe befriended players and their families alike, making a point to learn their names. He never knew a stranger or someone and was loved by so many. Besides his wife, Margaret, he was also preceded in death by great grandson, Nicholas Kaiser, siblings Richard (Bonnie) Genet, Norm (Esther) Genet, Joann (Nick) Tonovitz, Felicia (Jack) Turner, John (Jean) Genet, Don (Wanda) Genet, and Margaret Genet Ligas. The family would like to thank the Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living staff for their years of amazing and loving care of our parents; they were like family to them.  The services provided by Affinity Hospice staff these past eight months improved his quality of life.  The family is forever grateful for the years of loving care and friendship provided by Angie Brewster and our many loving cousins, who brought him such joy over the years, especially Norm Genet and Rosann Walter. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 5-8 p.m. at Silva-Hostetler Funeral Home, 1199 Wooster Rd. West, Barberton.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1263 Shannon Avenue, Norton. Burial at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, OH, with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the “Genet Family Scholarship Fund” in care of the Barberton Community Foundation.

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