Joseph Peter Pucylowski

Dear friends and family-the dear beloved father of my husband Mark Pucylowski passed this past Friday morning.  Mark did not want to make an announcement immediately and asked that I do so today.  Joe Pucylowski-also known as Joe, Papa Joe and Sliding Joe-was a kind man who enjoyed gardening.  He had a grapefruit and an avocado tree and loved planting strawberries and tomatoes.  I remember one year he sent us a box of Florida grapefruit (and how it brightened our Chicago winter).  Joe loved fishing and crabbing.  Mark has recounted to me how as a young boy, his father would take him to go early in the mornings to Cape Canaveral not only to watch a rocket launch but to wade around the sandy piers to find crabs/clams or other seafood goodies that were around and in season.  Joe loved making wooden decorative figures (such as birds and flowers and this little donkey cart you see here).  Joe also certainly loved to celebrate the holidays and would give Florida a taste of his Pennsylvania roots when he decorated the lawn with his version of snow.  When dancing with his beloved wife, he could light up a dance floor with his fast and slick dance moves and his smile.  He very much enjoyed Bluegrass music (discovering it when he visited Mark in North Carolina) and proceeded to visit the Merle Watson festival (MerleFest) for many years (and thus earning his nickname-Sliding Joe, which is quite a story in itself).  Joe enjoyed a good steak and playing some cribbage and cards with his family as well as doing his daily word searches.  May God Bless and keep Joe well as he has come to rest.  In loving memory of Joe Pucylowski-caring father of Mark Pucylowski as well as loving husband of Gail for 57 years.  He was a kind soul and a man of few words but of kind heart.