Joseph John Wnuk, “Joe,” beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and devoted Catholic, was born on August 9, 1937, and entered eternal life on August 27, 2026, the Feast of St. Monica, surrounded by the love of his family.

The son of Joseph Wnuk, born in Passaic, New Jersey, and Catherine Porada Wnuk, born in Chicago, Illinois, Joe was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and moved with his family to Chicago as a young boy. He attended St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School and Weber High School and remained connected throughout his life to his Catholic and Polish heritage.

At just 18 years old, Joe began working for the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board and later the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in downtown Chicago while attending night school at Loyola University Chicago, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. Joe completed a fellowship and earned a second master’s degree at Stanford University. He also proudly served his country in the United States Army.

But something even more important happened during those early years, Joe met the love of his life, Joanne in front of the elevators at Loyola University Chicago.

Joe and Joanne married and began a remarkable life together that would span 64 years. Early in their marriage, they moved to California, when Joe attended Stanford University. His 35-year career with the Internal Revenue Service took them from Chicago to Palo Alto, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cincinnati, and finally Jacksonville, Florida.

After retiring early from the IRS, Joe was far from finished working. He shared his knowledge as a college professor for several universities, worked for the State of Florida, and later for the University of Florida. He taught continuing education courses on U.S. Naval bases around the world, including at Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, as well as in Bermuda, Iceland, and Japan. His career reflected so many of the qualities that defined him: intelligence, discipline, curiosity, dedication, service, and a strong work ethic.

Jacksonville became home, and for 58 years Joe was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. He served on the Parish Council and school board, giving his time and talents to the parish and school community that became an important part of the Wnuk family’s life.

Of all his accomplishments, however, Joe was most proud of his family.

Joe and Joanne raised four children—Joseph, Mark, Katherine, and Julie—and built a home centered on faith, family, education, and time spent together. Joe worked hard to give his children opportunities and made sure they appreciated their Polish roots as well as their mother’s German and Scottish heritage.

Joe loved taking his family on summer vacations and made the journey as memorable as the destination. The annual summer drive to Chicago to visit family was a highlight, with a different route and new stops along the way each year. There might be a stop at The Varsity in Atlanta, a drive through the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg, visits to Nashville and Lincoln’s birthplace, “South of the Border” and Indianapolis. Joe was always willing to venture a little off the beaten path for history and great diners. Chicago was the destination, but getting there was always part of the adventure.

He took the family to Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian museums; Williamsburg, Virginia; Charleston; Savannah; and even Kingston, Jamaica, where the family joined him on a business trip. He explored Florida with them from Key West and the Everglades to the State Capitol in Tallahassee. St. Augustine was always a favorite, especially the Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street, the Cathedral,

The Columbia Restaurant, and the old Spanish Bakery. Beginning in October 1971, a one-day trip to Walt Disney World became an annual tradition.

Not every family adventure required a vacation. There were car shows, bike rides, drive-in movies, days at Alderman Park Swim and Tennis Club, Polish American Club events, Fourth of July fireworks downtown, University Donuts on Sundays, and Bono’s BBQ or fried shrimp meals for family gatherings. Sundays began with Mass and might continue with a picnic at the beach, a drive to Amelia Island, Gainesville, Savannah, or St. Augustine, a swim at the club, or a family dinner with kielbasa and pierogi.

Some of the best memories were made at home: Saturday chores and sports, holiday meals, Joe’s homemade sausage, fried bologna, and his onion soup in the winter, and 10 p.m. pizza takeout after Joe finished teaching evening classes at the Naval Air Station. There were family slideshow nights with popcorn, reliving vacations, celebrations, and all the ordinary moments that became treasured family memories.

Through all of it, Joe taught his children and grandchildren by both his words and his example: faith mattered, education mattered, hard work mattered, heritage mattered, and family mattered.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Joanne; his children, Joseph (Stephanie), Mark (Sallie), Katherine Shay (Chris), and Julie Bowles (Brenie); his grandchildren, Mark, Claire, Christian, Christopher, Brener, Sarah, Caroline, and Paddy; his great-grandchild, Grayson; his sister, Elaine Sally Johnson; and several nephews and a niece.

Joe’s family now entrusts him, with faith and love, to the mercy of God and the promise of eternal life.

The family will receive friends at a visitation and rosary on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Arlington Park Funeral Home, 6900 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, Florida, with the Rosary recited at 7:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 742 Arlington Road N., Jacksonville, Florida 32211. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, 960 South Girvin Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32225.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. 

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.