Joseph James Mosakowski

Like unto a teabag and the sweetness of the brew, you never know the character of a person, until they are submerged into hot water and steeped well.

Joseph James Mosakowski (Joe or Smiley) over the course of his almost 83 years on this earth was a determined dreamer, loving husband and adoring father who quietly lived his faith in all he did. Thanksgiving Day at 6:00 p.m. he achieved his final goal, beating Parkinson’s and reaching heaven. Preceded in death by his father Edward and Mother Stella Binkowski Mosakowski. Joe was a husband of 56 years, married to Martha Smith; father of 2 sons; Shanon Mosakowski of Tacoma, WA and Nathan Mosakowski, of Brentwood, TN; 2 daughters-in-law, Brenda Carruba Mosakowski and Mary Jo Parker Mosakowski; brother George and wife Peggy Mosakowski; 1 grandson Jacob, and 4 granddaughters; Denalie, Mia, Emalyn and Katlyn. Joe loved and lived a full life; an alumni of UNA and Ole Miss, professor of accounting for 39 years, a small business owner, steel worker, pilot, water sports enthusiast, coach, music and drama lover-singing with the Birmingham Warblers and church choirs, and always a U.S. Marine. He took special interest in YMCA youth basketball, teaching Sunday school, serving on UNA committees, helping Martha in their business and gardening-raising the biggest and best cauliflower and broccoli ever on the table. Joe was humorous a man of integrity who care about people and his community, he will be missed greatly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UNA,  North Wood United Methodist Church or Canaan UMC, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Additionally Joe enjoyed helping young people grow into productive adults, finding them work, coaching and building families. Whether helping refugees from Vietnam or local kids, Joe’s kindness and generosity to those truly in need, was a model we could all aspire to. Nathan Morales, could hear Joe at 6:30 every morning, when he called for a ride to work, in his groggy, but pleasant voice say, “I’m coming Nathan”, dutifully taking him to his place of employment and periodically enjoying soft served ice cream together on the way home.

Early involvement with the UNA International program brought opportunities to serve people, and over the years, whether sponsoring multiple groups of international students at UNA and sharing the local culture like canoeing the streams or having them in our home and sharing food, they were a joyful part of his life. Of special mention are, Hugyen from Vietnam in 1973, and two students from Nepal, who became near to Joe as a son and daughter Sabin Shrestha and Chandni Khadka. All taken in as his own children, they have moved to greater things but always stayed in touch, checking on the family. Chandni, now Director of International Programs at Jacksonville University and her husband Joe, were instrumental in loving and caring for Joe through the end and beyond.

A major community interest for Joe was saving the Shoals Renaissance Tower where he worked with over 100 people in the TOP group for 4 years. Brian Smith, the leader of TOP said “Joe was a quiet tough supporter that gave me strength, when I saw him in the audience at a meeting.” For their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Joe in his beginning stages of Parkinson took Martha and his dear friend John and Ramona Dennis and Sam and Martha Waller to the Tower for dinner. God has now unjoined the ONE union, after 56 years of marriage and taken half of that union to his home.

Raised catholic in Oakmont, PA, Joe at age nine, moved to Birmingham, AL with his Polish parents, Father Edward, an Ingalls Steel superintendent, Mother Stella Binkowski-Mosakowski, and Brother George Mosakowski. He graduated from Woodlawn High School, and started immediately to the University of Alabama to major in Engineering. Not finding satisfaction in the college life, he and friend Ron Peterson joined the Marines. He completed two tours of the Mediterranean. “We bunkered in and raised our rifles for war in Lebanon, when the war was called off.  We just went back to ship.” He said. Proverbs 17: 27 fits Joe very well, outside the classroom of teaching, he was a man of slow and few words with a heart of love and understanding. Little more did he say about the Marines, until in recent years with friends at North Wood Methodist Church.

Joe returned from the Marines to his parents in Verona, Pa.  He completed an electrical apprentice program and he went to work for Ingalls Steel assigned to the Natchez Trace bridge project, doing everything from time keeping, taking photos, to hauling water. Walking the steel girders daily, he gave cistern water to the workers. The workers on the bridge were not comfortable with cistern water and the neighbors were worried about not having enough water to continue providing through the hot summer ahead.  Youngsters Charles and Joann Richards and Charles Brown knew of a good well at the home of their friend Martha Smith and took Joe to meet the family.  When the Smiths heard the story they gave Joe permission to draw cans full of water every morning.  Each morning Joe came to do his task and had breakfast with the Smiths.

Martha the daughter was a student at Florence State, where Joe became a student and graduated in January 1965. He had been hired as auditor with US General Accounting Office (GAO) and proposed to Martha, who was working for South Central Bell Telephone in Huntsville. They were married February 1965 and left the Florence area for Atlanta, GA. Working the southeast until Joe had another dream of going to the University of Mississippi, where he would continue graduate studies and Martha would continue her undergraduate. Joe was offered an assistantship to teach, where he fell in love with teaching. He had a job waiting for him at Jacksonville State upon finishing his graduate work.  They left Oxford for Jacksonville and their first home with two weeks old Shanon.  Three years later Lawrence Conwill called and asked Joe to apply for an accounting position at Florence State, the University of North Alabama, his old alma mater.  He got the job and 35 years later, in 2007, Joe retired.  He enjoyed a quiet and healthy life in retirement until dealing with Parkinsons and Cancer. Till the end he was positive role model, embracing the life he had, never wanting to quit, always encouraging others.

Visitation will be Saturday, December 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Greenview Memorial Chapel. A second visitation will begin Sunday, December 5 at 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Canaan UMC. Officiating will be the Rev. Scott Coats and the Rev. Bill Beard. Burial will follow, with military honors, in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Shanon, Nathan, Bob, Jacob Mosakowski, Nathan Morales, and Greg Balentine. Clarence Darby and Joe Walsh will serve as honorary pallbearers. Musicians will be Linda Young, Charlotte Heaps, AB Brooks and Jim Stanfield.

Thank you to all the care givers and Hospice staff, who were instrumental in keeping Joe comfortable at home and to the Teresa and Clarence Darby family. Your genuine kindness and love will never be forgotten.

From Florence take Waterloo Road west to Rhodesville.  Turn left.  Church is on left about 2 miles.

Audio transmission of the service will be available through your car radio station 87.9.

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