Joseph "Joe" John Sangrey's Obituary
Beloved family-man and friend
Joseph "Joe" John Sangrey, age 84, of Lewes, DE recently of Stoughton, MA passed away peacefully on November 20, 2014 after a battle with lung cancer. He was born on May 26, 1930 in West Reading, PA, son of the late Ralph Mahlon and Emma Mae (Denison) Sangrey.
Joe spent his early years in south central Pennsylvania, primarily in Columbia. At age seven, his family moved to Philadelphia and then to Oaklyn, NJ. Joe graduated from Collingswood (NJ) High School in 1947 and enlisted in the U. S. Navy after graduation. While living in Oaklyn Joe met the love of his life, Jean Elizabeth Smith. The two were married on December 2, 1950.
The first year of their married life was spent in Key West FL, where Joe was stationed. Upon return to the New Jersey area, Joe held various jobs until landing a position with RCA in Camden. Joe became a Technical Writer, a job he would enjoy until retirement. While in New Jersey, the Sangrey's were long standing members of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. Joe was an avid bowler and bridge-player. He loved old cars and driving anything with wheels all over the USA. Joe loved his family and the time they spent together, he especially enjoyed Christmas. He loved to sing and listen to music (loudly!) on his stereos.
Growing up Joe's family was passionate about camping, a love he continued into his adult life. He and Jean became frequent campers, transitioning from pop-up trailer to Holiday Rambler motor homes over the years. After retirement in 1990, he and Jean would spend many moments together travelling the country.
In 2004 Joe and Jean relocated to Lewes, DE from Cherry Hill, NJ. Here they built new relationships and continued their Holiday Rambler RV Club travels. Joe remained active until the summer of 2014 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He moved to MA to be with his daughter Joyce and her family, and to receive care in the Boston area. Joe had the love and prayers of family and friends and the extraordinary care of Joyce and her Morgan support team. Joe passed away with Joyce holding his hand at the Hellenic Care Center in Canton, MA on November 20, 2014.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife Jean in 2012, and infant son, Jeffrey. He is survived by his two daughters Jill and her husband Burt Jackson of St. Paul, MN; Joyce and her husband Greg Morgan of Stoughton, MA; a son Jay and his wife Julie of Cherry Hill, NJ; three grandchildren, Ryan and Brooke Sangrey and Charlie Morgan, two brothers, William and his wife JoAnn of Carlisle, PA; and Tom and his wife Aimee of Mechanicsburg, PA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:30 PM on Friday, December 5, 2014 at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE where friends may call beginning at 2:30 PM. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284; Holiday Ramblers Scholarship Fund, 1600 W. Beardsley Ave. Elkhart, IN 46514; or Building Blocks Tutorial, 371 W. Baker St., St. Paul, MN 55107.
Please sign Joe's guestbook located on this site.
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