Joseph F. Danner, Jr.

On July 21, 2022, of Pitman, NJ, formerly of Dover, DE and Washington Twp., NJ.  Age 91.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Joe attended school and found the love of his life. He was very close to his family and had a calling for a life of service to his family, church, country, and the communities where he lived.

In 1951, he enlisted in the United States Navy, Seabees (Construction Battalions), serving four years.   He was honorably discharged in May 1955 after serving tours of duty in the United States, Canada, Cuba, and North Africa.  While in the service he became a heavy equipment operator engineer, bus driver, tractor-trailer driver, and trainer.

After serving his country, he worked at the US Post Office out of 30^th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA driving a tractor trailer transporting mail to New York City and back.  He later became an operating engineer for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 often operating large cranes in addition to other heavy equipment on projects in New Jersey.

Married February 14, 1953, Joe and Aggie spent 66+ blissful years together raising their four children: Pat Hindes (Wally), Joe III (the late Linda), John Sr. (Denise), and Mike (Shannon). Joe and Aggie  purchased their first house in Turnersville, NJ, spending 38 years watching their four children and five grandchildren grow up, including the arrival of two-great grandchildren.

It didn’t take long for Joe to become active in the Turnersville community.  He was a founding member of the Whitman Volunteer Fire Company, at the time, an all-volunteer fire company.  Joe also served on building committees for two Roman Catholic churches in Washington Township, St. Charles Borromeo, as well as Saints Peter and Paul.  Joe and Aggie were very active in Marriage Encounter, helping couples strengthen their relationships.

Joe and Aggie spent post retirement years traveling the world with their close friends, Harold and Faith, who they have known since Joe’s years in the Navy. He was best man at their wedding.

Joe and Aggie relocated to Dover, DE in 2005, spending 15+ years making new friends and being active in their new community.  Both volunteered in the USO at Dover AFB. Joe organized volunteers and ran the USO Reading Program at Dover AFB, which allowed deploying soldiers to video tape themselves reading books. Both the book and video were later sent to their young relatives back home.

In addition, Joe and Aggie ran the Young At Heart monthly speaker program at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Dover. Joe would arrange for speakers to come and talk to church members. He also helped establish and run their Community Neighborhood Watch organizing block captains and Emergency Contacts for their retirement community, for which he was honored by the Dover City Council.

Family and friends are invited to attend his visitation, Thursday, 8:30-10:30 AM, at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Road, Washington Twp.  Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Washington Twp.  Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the Charles Bonnet Syndrome Foundation.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”