Obituary
Joseph A. Kanapka, born on December 17, 1945, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Joseph and Nellie Kanapka, died on August 26, 2024. Joe is proudly first generation Lithuanian, and it was also his first language until he started school at age 5, learned English, and then taught his younger sister, Mary Ann, before she started school. He attended public school in Waterbury through 8th grade and then went to high school in Kennebunkport, Maine, at St. Anthony’s, run by Lithuanian Franciscan Friars. The Friars were quite strict and Joe was one of a graduating class of 6, but he had fond memories and frequently went back for reunions. He went on to college at UCONN, first at the branch in Waterbury and then at the main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, where he met his future wife, Carol, at a mixer at his dorm. After graduation, he started his Masters in Oral Biology at University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He came back in December, married Carol on December 30, 1967, and they set off for Winnipeg, stopping on the way for their honeymoon at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. The harrowing drive across Canada was hardpacked ice all the way to Winnipeg, and included getting stopped by the police (who wanted to know what a New York car was doing in Canada in winter), and the car breaking down along the way. Despite that, it was one of Joe and Carol’s earliest and most memorable adventures. For the next 3 years, Joe and Carol braved the Canadian cold, making many great friends from many different places. Joe had gotten a deferment having done ROTC at UCONN, but now it was time to start basic training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. Afterwards, he stayed on as a Chemical Corps instructor and his first son, Joe, was born in Anniston. Joe loved being a Chemical Corps instructor and was very proud of making Captain during his time at Ft. McClellan. After 3 years there, he decided to go back to school at SUNY Stony Brook for his PhD in Biochemistry/Oral Biology and during that time his second son, Bob, was born. Joe’s jobs over the years took the family to many other places, including New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Milan Italy(!), Long Island, Virginia and finally to Florida, where he retired and then moved with Carol to The Villages in 2006. He enjoyed golf (more so after years of caddying as a teen), learning how to invest in derivatives as a member of the Villages’ stock club, listening to opera (and occasionally showcasing his baritone), mushrooming (in order to can enough for one of the family’s favorite Lithuanian dishes, grybai) and traveling around the world with the love of his life, Carol. He is survived by Carol – his wife of 56 years – their son, Joe and wife, Beth, and grandson, Joey, and their son, Bob and wife, Rachael, and granddaughters, Anna, Kate and Ellie, and his sister, Mary Ann Hunt and her husband, Fred, and their daughter, Caitlin. Memorial mass will be held Monday, November 4, 2024 10:00 AM St. Timothy Catholic Church, Lady Lake, FL. US Army will render honors following the mass at 1:30 PM Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL as well. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Moffitt Cancer Center. Arrangements entrusted by BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.
Above all -values. Our parents were not about lolling around idle so it came as no surprise that we weren’t indulged in that activity either. We were here for a purpose and developing all of our talents and our virtues was simply not negotiable. Oh, that and hard work beginning as children delivering newspapers, shoveling snow in our neighborhood, caddying at the Country Club – and as soon as we were legally old enough, working every summer in god awful factories where we made and fashioned things – including our character.
How about responsibility – or fidelity to our families? Yes 24/7/365.
Academic excellence was expected. No exceptions. Patriotism and love of country – an expectation born of our older family’s tracks which we were expected to faithfully follow. Upholding the standards of our parents – and teaching our children to do likewise was similarly required.
This was the menu Joe followed – with pride and aplomb. It is why he became wise; why he respected and loved CJ, his sons and grandchildren; and of course, his parents; why he served, with honor, for his country as a U.S. Army officer; why he achieved a doctorate degree in a difficult subject; and why he worked so hard to support his family financially, emotionally, lovingly.
He owes no apologies to anyone, nor any mea culpas.
In short Joe was a man for all seasons. It was my privilege, indeed my honor, to have known this brother so well. I will never forget him.
RIP Joe.
We will miss you dear Joe. Your kindness, your sincere and friendly smile, your high intellect and stimulating appetites and conversations…
Much love and many thanks for your friendship.
God Bless you!
Carole Kiel
I will miss him greatly but know, that he left a part of himself within my thoughts, that will remain for the rest of my life
Godspeed Joe, broliuk!