Joseph " Joe" Maknauskas' Obituary
Mr. Joseph " Joe" Maknauskas, age 67 of Smyrna, passed away October 19, 2012. The memorial mass will be held Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church with Rev. James Kuczynski officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delta Heritage Museum. http://deltamuseum.org/
Joseph “Joe” Maknauskas died Friday, October 19, 2012. He was born July 9, 1945 in Philadelphia, PA and spent his early years there. Even as a boy, Joe gravitated to skills such as carpentry, plumbing and rudimentary mechanics. Following high school he enlisted in the Navy Air. While serving his country Joe honed his fundamental mechanical skills and trained as an airline mechanic. Those skills landed him a career with a company that he loved and remained loyal to for 43 years: Delta. His service in the Navy Air brought him to Atlanta where he met an even greater love, his wife Ellen. Their loving marriage endured for 44 years and produced two beautiful daughters, Lori and Teri. Joe embraced fatherhood from its onset. When his girls were little, he was a “modern” Dad who enjoyed all the little parental duties. He could be found feeding his daughters breakfast after coming home from working the night shift. He was present at all their youth activities and coached several. In return for his patience, love, time and attention, his daughters adored him. The song for the father daughter dance at Lori’s wedding was Wind Beneath My Wings and he was indeed that for both of his daughters and his wife. One daughter recently described him as the “rock” of the family. As his family grew, Joe welcomed his sons-in-law Steve and Andrew and was an extremely proud grandfather to his grandsons Ryan and Kevin and granddaughter Lily. As with his wife and daughters, they all loved and cherished Joe. Joe was also a devoted son and brother. His sisters and brothers in law considered him as their brother.
He was always there for his immediate and extended family. Joe was the go-to guy for fixing any and everything and would show up with his toolbox in hand to help family and friends and never asked for anything in return. He just liked helping others. He was very generous with his time and many talents. Joe and Ellen devoted much time to their Church, St. Thomas the Apostle. Joe was the designated behind the scenes person who made sure that everything worked properly and helped wherever he was needed.
Joe’s enjoyment of his lifelong career with Delta was always apparent. He was universally liked by everyone who knew and worked with him and had a reputation for having a strong work ethic and being a meticulous expert in his work. His loyalty to Delta extended past his early retirement, which lasted all of a few weeks, when he returned to the Delta Heritage Museum, a project dear to his heart as he helped establish it. His family and close friends are now well educated in the history of aviation and in particular that of Delta as Joe’s obvious enthusiasm and knowledge on the topic was contagious.
People could underestimate Joe when they first met him since he was a quiet man. He never bragged about his skills and knowledge but he was well read and informed and could discuss a wide range of topics with ease. His warm and friendly nature coupled with a wry wit made him many friends that he kept for life. Everyone who knew Joe well had fuel for teasing him about his “mess”. He was an immaculate dresser and was always well groomed. However, that tidiness did not extend to his basement, dresser or desk at work. Joe was a scavenger. His basement is a collection of things found over the years that others might consider junk. However, anyone mentioning to Joe a need to fix something or find an odd item would see him slip into his basement or desk and return with the item or something that he could fashion into what would fit the need. He loved his “mess”.
Joe epitomized the definition of a good man. He was kind, thoughtful and completely devoted to his family, friends, job and faith. He doted on his wife making sure that she was supported and cherished and his girls never doubted how special they were to him. He was an easy man to like as demonstrated by the large number of caring friends and love and admiration of his immediate and extended family. He treated his mother and father in law as he did his own parents, with love, respect and support.
Joe is survived by and will always be missed by his wife Ellen Maknauskas, daughter and son-in-law Lori and Steve Rodgers, daughter and son-in-law Teri and Andrew Balcom, grandsons Ryan and Kevin Rodgers, granddaughter Lily Balcom, mother Stella Maknauskas, sister and brother-in-law Joan and David Kroekel , his extended family of sisters and brothers- in -law, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. They all have cherished memories of Joe and he will live in their hearts forever.
What’s your fondest memory of Joseph?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joseph?
Share a story where Joseph's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joseph you’ll never forget.
How did Joseph make you smile?